http://www.tkktcenf.org/ TRNC Public Information OfficetrCopyright TRNC PIO. All Rights Reserved.20.05.2012 22:02:0120 http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=158518.05.2012 - http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=158418.05.2012 - The new positive agenda intended to bring fresh dynamics into the EU-Turkey relations was launched by Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Štefan Füle and the Turkish Minister for European Affairs and Chief EU negotiator Egemen Bağış in Ankara on Thursday. The aim of this process is to keep the accession process of Turkey alive and put it properly back on track after a period of stagnation. Commissioner Füle said at the press conference this morning: "This is a special day in the EU-Turkey relationship - the day of opening positive agenda in the EU-Turkey accession process. This positive agenda should bring fresh dynamics and a new momentum into our relations. Our aim is to keep the accession process alive and put it properly back on track after a period of stagnation, which has been a source of frustrations on both sides. Let me stress again that the positive agenda is not to replace, but to complement and support the accession process of Turkey. At the same time it is not an abstract concept, it is not window-dressing. It is about a new way of looking at the accession negotiations. It is the new way we communicate and interact with each other. It is the way how we look at each other as two equal partners. It is positive not only in the name, but first of all in the intention and in the content. The positive agenda is not only to support but to go beyond the accession negotiations. It covers all important elements of our relationship. We have new goals and new determination to deliver results. It is a joint determination that will require efforts from both sides. To find the way back to re-energized European-Turkish dynamism we are starting concrete work, building on joint achievements and joint strategic interests, to bring a new momentum into our engagement. The idea of the positive agenda is to enhance our cooperation and to promote reforms in Turkey in areas of joint interest where progress is both needed and feasible. These include, naming the most relevant of them: the alignment with the EU legislation, political reforms and fundamental rights, visa, mobility and migration, trade, energy, counter-terrorism or dialogue on foreign policy. Reforms in these areas are crucial for enhancing freedoms and living standards of the Turkish people. That is why we try to make the positive agenda as interactive as possible and go even beyond the contact with the government and officials. The positive agenda is also the way to engage and interact with the civil society and I will meet representatives of several dozens of organizations later today. Now few words on how exactly this will work: with our Turkish friends we have agreed to set up working groups whose task will be to accelerate the process of alignment of Turkey with EU policies and standards under eight chapters. This is indispensable for making progress in the accession negotiations. I will proceed now with the first meeting of the working group dealing with Judiciary and fundamental rights, clearly the most essential of all, in presence of Egemen Bağış and the Minister of Justice Mr Sadullah Ergin. The citizens of Turkey look forward to reforms in this area, and are hopeful that the future new Constitution, for which work of substance has started, will meet their expectations. The European Commission is happy to be able to offer support and guidance and looks forward to a useful, result driven process." (AB Haber) Remarks by Commissioner Füle after the first working group on chapter 23 ′′It was a pleasure to open the concrete work on the positive agenda and it is not a coincidence that we start with the chapter 23 on judiciary and fundamental rights. This chapter is very important since it covers judiciary and fundamental rights and as such relates directly to constitutional provisions and touches upon the upcoming constitutional reform. Furthermore it relates to the essence of the European values and principles on which our societies are built. Reforms and progress in this area will bring tangible results for all citizens of Turkey. I have mentioned on a number of occasions that the positive agenda is not meant to replace the accession process but to support it. I strongly believe that if we do all we can, results will follow. This will benefit first and foremost the citizens of Turkey and will contribute to a lasting improvement of this country′s perception in our Member States. Let me in this context recall that a large number of political reforms is already underway or foreseen in the near future by the Turkish government. This is very much due to the efforts and determination of Minister Ergin and his colleagues. I am pleased that today′s meeting showed again the high level of ambition of the minister for future reforms, both on fundamental rights and the judiciary. I also hope that political support is also invested in the strengthening of the legislative framework to fight corruption and its implementation. I have in particular welcomed the intention to table the 4th judicial reform package, which foresees further reforms in the area of freedom of expression and the media. This package offers an excellent opportunity to address the outstanding core concerns as regards freedom of expression, the rights to liberty and security, and to a fair trial.′(AB Haber) http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=158318.05.2012 - (The Greek Cypriot Daily, Cyprus Mail-15.5.2012) THE unprecedented rise of the far right in Greece in last Sunday’s election has succeeded in raising enough alarm here in Cyprus to prompt President Christofias to comment that the economic crisis is strengthening radical parties across Europe.Fears of a rise in nationalism locally have been heightened by the potentially explosive mix of economic recession, rising unemployment and increasing racism, with local immigrant support groups saying that they fear foreigners will be on the receiving end of any nationalist surge. “The world economic crisis unfortunately offers today such possibilities to the extreme right particularly where there is no awareness of the historical truth and the mature democratic awareness. History teaches us that any tolerance to fascism is catastrophic,” Christofias said this week.The surge of Greece’s ultra right-wing Golden Dawn in the polls from a paltry 0.2 per cent of the vote in 2009 to seven per cent last Sunday has turned the spotlight on a party that has existed in the shadows, giving local nationalists cause to celebrate. As the tallies were called, members of Cyprus’ home-grown, right-wing party ELAM, decked themselves out in black shirts and waved Greek and Golden Dawn flags as they took to the streets of Nicosia, car horns blaring and firecrackers exploding.“It is our great pleasure that we realized that the end of two-party system [in Greece] coincides with a shift towards nationalism. The system panicked because it realizes that it has now lost its full influence,” the party announced.ELAM said they were thrilled with the new support for their “brother movement in Greece”, adding that their members became frantic when presented the first results of the exit polls.The party held a double celebration, saying they were also euphoric at the local student elections at the University of Nicosia, where their candidate managed to win a seat on the student body last week, despite what they described as “complete opposition by the campus authorities”.“The result made everyone freeze, leaving them stunned. As always our triumphant and dynamic presence ended with National Anthem,” the statement added.ELAM was recognized as a legal political party by the attorney general last year and took part in the parliamentary elections receiving 4,354 votes (1.08 per cent). Their manifesto promotes a strict anti-federalist solution concerning the Cyprus dispute, a zero-toleration anti-immigration policy against illegal immigration, and Hellenistic education.Doros Polycarpou from the immigrant support group KISA, says much of the blame for the rise in nationalism lies at the door of the government, for fragmenting society in Cyprus.“The government failed to see the society as a whole, and I mean the entire society. They isolated the Greek Cypriot population from the rest – and they consider those who are affected by the crisis are the Greek Cypriots and others are to blame. This is how you isolate your society.”Polycarpou added that he believes that migration can deliver economic gains and the media are partly to blame for their poor coverage of the issue.“The media in this country don’t publish anything positive about migration; on the contrary, this will create a similar situation or even worse situation here in the coming months than we have in Greece.”KISA say that a general lack of progress in a political landscape that shapes an increasingly inward-looking and less tolerant society, means there is a lot to be done to tackle racism and discrimination.Populist anti-immigrant parties have also enjoyed rising success in the Netherlands, Hungary and Finland, where the True Finns increased their vote in last year’s election to 19.1 per cent from 4.1 per cent in 2007. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=158218.05.2012 - (The Greek Cypriot Daily, Cyprus Mail-15.5.2012) PRESIDENT Christofias announced yesterday, in a televised address to the people that he would not stand for re-election. He was thus honoring the promise he had made during his election campaign, not to seek a second term. He had said, as he reminded everyone yesterday, that he would re-consider this decision only if the Cyprus problem had been solved or if the two sides were very close to a deal and he needed to stay in office to see it through. As we were nowhere near a settlement Christofias had to keep his promise, becoming the first president, in our short history, not to seek a second term.But why was he in such a hurry to announce his decision, considering there was still a very small possibility of progress on the Cyprus problem? The procedure has not been abandoned by the UN which has now decided to pursue proximity talks. In other words, Christofias could have waited at least another month to see if there were any developments, before making a decision.The truth is that opinion polls played a bigger part than the Cyprus problem in determining Christofias’ decision. An opinion poll published in Simerini on Sunday showed that he would take only 20 per cent of the vote in the presidential elections, indicating that he could not even rely on the backing of all AKEL voters (the party’s share of the vote, normally, is close 30 per cent). Opinion polls, conducted privately for AKEL, would probably have produced similar percentages.If opinion polls showed Christofias had an approval rating of 70 instead of 20 per cent and an electoral backing of 30 instead of 20 per cent, he would have sought a second term, presumably, in order to have another shot at solving the Cyprus problem. But with his popularity so low, AKEL pressured him for a decision so it could have time to forge an alliance with another party for the presidential elections. If AKEL does not act now, the four parties of the so-called in-between space, currently discussing the forging of an election alliance, would have agreed on a common candidate and AKEL would have been obliged to contest the elections on its own. With Christofias out of the way, AKEL will try to forge an alliance with one of the parties of the in-between space. Party chief Andros Kyprianou is scheduled to meet his EDEK and DIKO counterparts separately this week, with a view to discussing an election deal. He could not have done this before Christofias announced his decision not to seek a second term. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=158118.05.2012 - In the round table meeting of European Policy Center in 15 May 2012 which was under the topic of ‘Cyprus Issue: Next Step, Greek Cypriot Point of View’ the Left Group Member of the European Parliament, Greek Cypriot MP Takis Hadjigeorgiou had a tough time because of the questions of the participants. Takis Hadjigeorgiou had difficulty to answer the questions. The most remarkable comment of the meeting was the comment of the Greek EU Parliamentarian. He criticized Hadjigeorgiou by saying ‘you keep blaming TR Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and TRNC President Dr. Derviş Eroğlu however it is obvious that Mr. Erdoğan is following the negotiations quite well. On the other hand you must give us explanation what did you do as AKEL in past three years of the negotiations. You must not blame Erdoğan and Eroğlu for the negotiations between Talat and Hristofias at first you must criticize yourself. In 2004 Greek Cypriot Leader did not negotiated well however AKEL, your party supported Papadapulos on that time, AKEL could have supported Annan Plan rather than Papadopulos. Now you are claiming that Annan Plan was refused just because of the Guaranties and Turkish soldiers however we all know that those issues are red lines of the Turkish side and according to the Annan Plan in ten years there was to be no Turkish Soldiers in Cyprus. You lost the Golden Opportunity and you abandoned Turkish Cypriots after the negotiation process of Talat and Hristofias and now you are talking about the confidence building measures. This is only waste of time; you have to focus on the solution’. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=158018.05.2012 - TRNC Presidency has made an attempt in the presence of Ambassador of Israel to South Cyprus concerning the violation of TRNC airspace by an Israeli aircraft on 14th May 2012 and warned Israel. TRNC President Dervis Eroğlu′s Special Representative Kudret Özersay had a phone conversation with Ambassador of Israel to South Cyprus Michael Hariri regarding violation of TRNC air space. On the other hand Turkey requested for explanation from Israel concerning the violation of TRNC airspace. Sources of Foreign Affairs Ministry reminded that the diplomatic relations between Turkey and Israel are at the level of second secretary and expressed that they requested explanation about the violation. However Israel has not made any explanation to Foreign Affairs Ministry. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=157918.05.2012 - Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun has urged parties concerned to avoid cooperation with the Greek Cypriot Side in exploration and drilling activities for oil and natural gas around Cyprus waters. In a written statement, Foreign Minister Ozgurgun laid emphasis on the fact that the majority of parcels put up for tender by the Greek Cypriot Administration, clashed with the licensed areas of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation.He said the Greek Cypriot Side’s insistence on negotiating tenders within its so-called exclusive economic zone only help to increase tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.“Cyprus Turks are the equal partners of the island. President Dervis Eroglu’s set of proposals which were put on the table in New York in September 2011 and envisaged a fair share of Cyprus’ natural resources, is still valid” Ozgurgun stressed. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=157818.05.2012 - President Dervis Eroglu expressed that neither UN Secretary General nor his advisors can hold the Turkish Cypriot side responsible for failure. Turkish Cypriot side always showed flexibility to reach a solution but Greek Cypriot side always displayed a hard line during the negotiations. Indicating that Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias has withdrawn from presidential candidacy by saying that solution would not be reached, Eroglu said that Greek Cypriots proved their uncompromising attitude when they voted ‘no’ for the Annan Plan. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=157717.05.2012 - http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=157617.05.2012 - UN Spokesperson Martin Nesirky expressed that continuation of negotiation process is important. The spokesperson replied the question “how did UN Secretary General Ban evaluate the future of negotiation process following the statement of leader of Greek Cypriot administration Christofias that he would not be a candidate in the leadership elections to be held in South Cyprus” and said “UN’s making a comment on such an individual election process is inappropriate. What is important is the continuation of Cyprus negotiations and this process will continue”. On the other hand, Ban’s Special Advisor Downer has stated that Christofias told him that “he wants to carry out the process in the best way”. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=157517.05.2012 - UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor to Cyprus Alexander Downer stated that the subject concerning a multilateral conference on the Cyprus problem in summer months is on the negotiation table for EU. Stating that multilateral conference is “a part of process and agenda”, Downer pointed out that they wish to hold this conference but they have to find the proper time for doing this.Stating that they tried to make an image on how the process will progress, Downer expressed that he and some authorities from the group in UN make shuttle diplomacy and they hope that it will be possible to make a progress. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=157417.05.2012 - An Israeli plain has violated TRNC airspace yesterday.According to the statement in the website of Turkish office of commander in chief, the violation has been ended after the Turkish war crafts were alarmed and went out to patrol in the area. The websites of Turkish press published the case as “breaking news”.The case is stated in the website of the Turkish Armed Forces as the following: “An Israeli plane that its type could not been identified has violated TRNC airspace (on territorial waters) 5 times for 8 minutes between the hours of 11.05-12.49. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=157317.05.2012 - Turkish EU Minister and the Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagıs and EU Commissioner Stefan Fule will start ‘positive agenda’ officially today. According to the press statement of the European Union, positive agenda is a working method in order to accelerate Turkey’s Accession Process to the EU. Moreover, it was announced that it is aimed to strengthen the cooperation for visa, political reforms, energy, struggling with terrorism and employing Turkish experts in the European Commission which are the important issues for Turkey-EU relations. According to the press statement, it was also announced that it is also aimed with the positive agenda to fulfill the opening and closing criteria of working groups composed of 8 chapters. Within this framework, the first meeting of working groups will be realized in the Ministry of European Union. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=157217.05.2012 - Greek Cypriot Administration Leader Demetris Christofias stated that he would not be a candidate in the elections in 2013 but Greek Cypriot Administration’s argument for ‘continuing negotiation process during EU Term Presidency’is not persuasive for the UN. It was stressed that Christofias’s statement repealed all efforts of UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor for Cyprus, Alexander Downer, affected the procedure in a bad way so Downer can go to the Security Council to announce the collapse of negotiations. Greek Cypriot daily Politis noted under the headline ‘The Only Way is Security Council’ and underlined that Cyprus negotiation process and the future of negotiation process will be discussed in UN Security Council. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=157117.05.2012 - The Deputy Speaker of the Kosovan Parliament Enis Kervan is having a series of contacts in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Within the framework of his contacts Mr. Kervan was received by President Derviş Eroğlu and the Speaker of Parliament Hasan Bozer respectively. The Deputy Speaker of the Kosovan Parliament Enis Kervan first paid a visit to President Derviş Eroğlu. Speaking during the visit, Mr. Kervan said the aim of his visit was to further develop the cultural and social relations between his country and the TRNC.For his part, President Derviş Eroğlu noted that the developments in Kosovo are being watched closely by the TRNC authorities and expressed his happiness over the independence and the recognition of Kosovo in over 80 countries. Mr. Kervan was then received by the Speaker of the Parliament Hasan Bozer.Speaking during the visit, Mr. Bozer reminded that Mr. Kervan had visited the TRNC before and noted that such visits are important for building bridges between the two countries. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=157017.05.2012 - President Dervis Eroglu said that it was not possible to discuss essence of the issues during the negotiations, while the confidence building measures will be discussed at the level of technical committees.In a statement, reiterating that they were against open ended negotiations, Eroglu said that the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias didn’t accept a time limit. Eroglu continued: “the negotiations have been continuing as open ended for 48 years, during which 6 different Greek Cypriot leaders came to power, and several generations passed. Another 48 years can not be waited.Eroglu added that the confidence building measures except the substantive issues will begin to be discussed at the level of technical committees, after the technical committees determine their issues.Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side would put forward some preconditions for resuming the negotiations, Eroglu continued that the UN Secretary General’s approval of everything which had been rejected by the Greek Cypriot side was not meant negotiation.. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=156916.05.2012 - http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=156816.05.2012 - The Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education was held on May 11 and its general assembly on May 12, 2012 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The meeting was hosted by the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance. CEENQA was welcome two new members who joined since the last meeting in 2011, the Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council YÖDAK of North Cyprus and Accreditation Agency for Study Programs in Health and Social Science AHPGS. CEENQA now has a total of 23 member agencies. Chairman of the YODAK, Mr Hasan Ali Bıçak, said in the conference, TRNC has 7 universities with 50,000 students and one out of 6 persons are higher education student that’s lead the country to have over international standard according to its population. http://www.kktcenf.org/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=156716.05.2012 - Speaking during the celebration of the European Union Day and the 4th year of the EU Information Center President Derviş Eroglu stated that the Turkish Cypriot people were offended by the EU as an international organization. President added that despite the Financial Aid Regulation was put into force in 2006, many problems have been faced and the Direct Trade Regulation was not even implemented. Pointing out that in addition to accepting South Cyprus to EU membership, the Direct Trade Regulation faced many obstacles President Eroglu said to make things worse the EU High-Level Contact Group with Turkish Cypriots was a total disappointment. President reminded that the High-Level Contact Group did not want to visit him in his office when they first came to island and did not know what kind of benefits the Contact Group provided for the Turkish Cypriot people. Explaining that many young students gained scholarships within the framework of the EU Commission’s financial aid President Eroglu said however they heard that the scholarships would be cut down this year. Stressing that the TRNC has progressed well in the EU harmonization studies President Eroglu said it was pleasing to catch the EU standards but if the EU disregarded the TRNC institutions, these studies would be on paper. President added that the contacts with the EU at highest level would continue. Noting that the EU should motivate the Greek Cypriot side towards a solution, keep its promises given to Turkish Cypriots and take care of the Turkish Cypriots’ sensitivity, President said the High-Level Contact Group did not want to see the TRNC flag in the TRNC Presidency and this was considered as an insult to the Turkish Cypriots. Stating that it was unjust for the Turkish Cypriot people to be treated as they were guilty or acting against human rights, President said it was unusual and unlawful to impose embargoes on innocent people.