According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 21.03.16), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in statements regarding Turkey’s EU membership process, visa free travel and the Cyprus issue, said that Turkey had made in the past a proposal to then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan while in Davos in order to solve the Cyprus issue but added…
Focus on Turkish Cypriot economy
By George Telaveris As negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem intensify, efforts are increasing to prepare Turkish Cypriot banks for the demands of the eurozone and to support a united Cyprus in managing a new federal system of government. “The opening of the Turkish market to the Cyprus economy will benefit the service sector, shipping…
Self-confident Erdogan may give Cyprus peace efforts a boost #Reuters
BRUSSELS, Nov 3 (Reuters) – After stifling initial groans of dismay, European policymakers are looking for a silver lining for EU-Turkey relations in the emphatic election victory of President Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted AK Party. At least Ankara will now have a strong, stable government able to implement agreements with the European Union to manage millions…
Time for Cyprus’s reunification has come–but Erdogan holds the key #guardian
Eclipsed by the state of tumult in the region, a quiet miracle has occurred in the eastern Mediterranean, where Cyprus has come back from the brink of economic disaster in a recovery that would be the envy of its cousins in Greece. As the race to reunite the divided island begins in earnest on Friday,…
Erdogan: “The water from Turkey can be a water for peace”
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (30.10.15) reports that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaking on a TV program responded to questions regarding the water pipeline project. Erdogan stated that if the Greek Cypriot side faces difficulties with water at one point, then the water brought from Turkey can be offered to them. “The water from Turkey…
Merkel says Germany ready to support Cyprus and help Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (19.10.15) reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that her country is ready to extend support to Cyprus while helping drive forward Turkey’s European Union accession process. Merkel held a joint news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul on Sunday, after the two had a…
17 organisations held demonstration to protest water project from Turkey
The demonstrators held black balloons and held placards which read ‘The water you have brought will not clean the blood of the lives you have taken’. Police created a human barricade outside the Turkish Embassy. The Chairman of the KTOS union Sener Elcil read out a short statement after which the demonstrators held a minutes…
Obama and Erdogan discuss Cyprus
US President Barack Obama and Turkish President Tayip Erdogan discussed the progress on Cyprus peace negotiations and signalled their mutual support in the months to come. The two leaders had a telephone conversations on Thursday in which they discussed ISIL and PKK threats as well as regional issues ahead of a G20 Summit in Antalya,…
Commentary argues that Erdogan authorized major land concessions to Greek cypriot side
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (11.08.15) published an article by Abdullah Bozkurt under the title “Erdogan’s vulnerability is his liability”. In the article Bozkurt writes that faced with weakened political strength, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to have grown desperate to gain some acknowledgement and respect from foreign powers to boost his waning legitimacy…
‘Turkey maintaining hands-off policy on Cyprus negotiations’
Turkey is maintaining a hands-off policy during the current Cyprus negotiations, according to the Turkish Cypriot ‘foreign minister’ Emine Colak. In an interview with Hurriyet, Colak said that during the recent visit to the north by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, her impression from private meetings with him was that Ankara was sincere in wanting a…