All the Turkish Cypriot daily newspapers today (22.05.14) cover on their front page the arrival of the US Vice President Joe Biden to Cyprus and the statements he made yesterday at Larnaka International Airport.
Under the title “I think this time it will be different”, Kibris reports that Biden said he did not come to Cyprus to impose a solution, but to help in finding one. He noted that the solution is in the hands of the Cypriots and noted that one of the reasons of his visit to Cyprus is the fact that he believes that this time the solution process will be different. The paper writes also that after his statements at the airport, the US Vice President visited President Anastasiades in his residence in Limassol. Citing information from the Greek Cypriot press, the paper notes that this visit was not included in Biden’s program, but it was materialized at Biden’swish.
Afrika refers to the issue under the title “Biden: I did not come with a solution plan” and reports that Biden said he came to the island on behalf of the USA, not to impose a solution, but to help the Cypriots in finding one. The paper writes that Biden said he has been following the Cyprus problem for the last 40 years and knows that only the Cypriots can decide for their future. According to the paper, Biden said he wanted to clarify one issue and noted: “The USA recognizes only one legitimate government in Cyprus and this is the Republic of Cyprus. The visits and the contacts that I will have everywhere in the island will not change this reality. My position, the position of the USA and the position of the whole world is the same on this issue…” The paper refers also to the “extraordinary security measures” taken in Larnaka.
Under the title “The solution is in you”, Yeni Duzen reports that the US Vice President Joe Biden is in the island for his “historic visit”. The paper refers also to the statement that the USA recognizes only the government of the Republic of Cyprus as the only legitimate state in the island. It also refers to the statement that the time has come for the reunification of Cyprus under a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation and that the story of Europe in the 20th century is a story during which barricades fell.He said that peace is always possible. He added that the media had reported that he would come having the solution of the Cyprus problem in his bag, but he did not come to impose a solution. According to the paper, Biden described as “positive” for the solution the climate in Cyprus. Yeni Duzen also refers to the out-of-the program meeting with President Anastasiades in Limassol.
Diyalog covers the visit under the title “There is no imposition” noting that “Biden, who stated that he has been following the Cyprus problem for 40 years and that he did not come with a solution plan in his pocket, tried to allay concerns”. The paper uses also the following subtitles: “Two airplanes land in three minutes” and “The Republic of Cyprus is the only legitimate government”.
Under the title “There is no solution in my bag”, Havadis writes that Biden’s message to the leader was clear. Havadis covers the issue under the following subtitles: “I have come to help”, “Biden: “Peace is always possible”, “He emphasized on the joint statement” and “Special importance to energy!”
Under the title “Biden came, he came with empty bag” Kibris Postasi writes that as soon as he arrived, Biden seriously tried to emphasize that he had nothing regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem in his bag and exerted an effort to drew attention to other issues outside the Cyprus problem refraining to refer to the USA’s position on the solution of this problem.
Under the title “Historic visit”, Halkin Sesi reports that Cyprus received a high ranking US official after 52 years. The issues to which the paper attaches importance are the same as the papers mentioned above. The same parts from Biden’s statements are reported on the front pages of the rest of the papers’ under the following titles:
Detay: The “expected guest” came
Star Kibris: He said his bag was empty
Kibrisli: Biden met with Anastasiades outside the program
Volkan: Will the TRNC be ignored because the Greek Cypriots wanted so?
Vatan: Biden came
Bakis: “I did not come with a solution plan”
Gunes: The climate is appropriate
Ortam: He will only help!