Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-02-19

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Colak describes as "surprising" the EU Commission's decision regarding the Task Force for the Turkish Cypriot Community

[02] Denktas: Negotiations reached a dangerous and threatening point

[03] Turkish "ambassador" met with the association of the settlers from Black Sea

[04] Self-styled minister Sucuoglu met with an IMF delegation

[05] Sucuoglu says that the regime is expecting 200 thousand tourists from 12 countries in 2016 only from charter flights

[06] A "water platform" established in the occupation regime to prepare an action plan

[07] The "Entrepreneurship project" to be implemented in the occupation regime; Atun: "Priority will be given to disadvantaged areas such as Morfou and Karpasia"

[08] Antiquities were found in occupied Keryneia

[09] "The first international bicycle tour" is starting today in the breakaway regime

[10] Cavusoglu urges US to cut ties with PYD/YPG terrorist organization

[11] Turkey continues to shell PYD positions in Syria's Azaz; Turkish military hits PYD targets in northern Syria with missiles

[12] Turkey informs P5 and the EU on Ankara bomber's alleged PYD link

[13] Turkey Rapporteur Kati Piri interviewed by Turkish daily; She accused the EU of insincerity

[14] Commentary: "Turkish people feel US is helping killers"

[15] Commentaries on the Ankara bomb attack

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Colak describes as "surprising" the EU Commission's decision regarding the Task Force for the Turkish Cypriot Community

In statements to illegal Bayrak television, Colak said: "This is actually a surprise. We had not heard it before. However, with a sudden decision it was bound to the European Commission's President. [?] I think that this is a new and important step. Yes, primarily it is a gesture and a message. It is actually an appreciation of the fact that this issue has been taken seriously at the highest level, that importance and appreciation is attached to the level which the negotiations have reached and that we need to work even harder".

Colak also noted that it seems that the Commission will exert efforts to keep its promise to offer more effective support to the process. She argued that "at least this focus of interest is a confirmation of the impression that the ongoing process in Cyprus is really heading towards a result". "In this sense it is satisfying", she added.

Referring to the efforts of the Turkish Cypriot community to harmonize with the EU, Colak said that they are not at the desired level and are not made at the desired speed.

Meanwhile, the self-styled foreign ministry of the regime also commented on the issue expressing the expectation that the above-mentioned decision will give "a new momentum to the support offered by the European Commission to the existing negotiating process through giving the opportunity for the timely realization of the necessary preparations of the Turkish Cypriot community" for the EU.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Denktas: Negotiations reached a dangerous and threatening point

"The issue of (Turkish) guarantees is in danger. There is neither political equality nor equality regarding the sovereignty", Denktas stated adding that no concessions are seen to be made on the issue of property as well. "Therefore we do not consider the negotiations to progress positively", Denktas stated.

(CS)

[03] Turkish "ambassador" met with the association of the settlers from Black Sea

During the meeting, Kanbay told the association's chairman Baki Aygun that the "embassy" is always ready to offer any kind of assistance and support to the association.

On his part, Aygun stated that the 10,000 members of the association are always working towards promoting the culture of the Black Sea to the occupied area of Cyprus.

(CS)

[04] Self-styled minister Sucuoglu met with an IMF delegation

According to a statement issued by Sucuoglu's "ministry", the development of tourism in the economy, the tourism models after the solution of the Cyprus problem and the contribution that could be made to occupied north Cyprus' tourism were discussed during the 1.5-hour meeting.

Noting that they had a very productive meeting with the IMF officials, Sucuoglu said that they decided to work together on the issue of how the IMF could contribute to the "country's" tourism.

Expressing his satisfaction with the visit of the IMF delegation, Sucuoglu further noted that they will meet again with the IMF soon.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Sucuoglu says that the regime is expecting 200 thousand tourists from 12 countries in 2016 only from charter flights

Referring to the reservations from Britain, Sucuoglu said that these were doubled this year comparing to last year and that the newly established in London "Independent Turkish Cypriot Tour Operators' Union" has created a momentum in the sector.

Sucuoglu said that they will continue the advertisements abroad and pointed out that after their advertisements "more reference to north Cyprus" started in Turkey and in Britain. He added that within the forthcoming days they will decide to start advertisements in Germany. Referring to the tourism fair in Germany, Sucuoglu said that he will have "serious contacts" there and that he will meet with tour operators.

He further noted that Corendon company has relations with all the hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus, and launched a serious advertising campaign. Subsequently, intensive reservations started, he said.

Noting that they are working with the stakeholders for establishing a "tourism organization", he said that next week they will hold a "tourism council".

Sucuoglu noted that they are in continuous contacts with the European Union and the World Bank and that they want financial support especially for their Eco tourism projects.

Sucuoglu further said that two big tour operators, who carry tourists from Iran to Turkey, held contacts with him and that Iranian tourists might visit the occupied area of Cyprus for resting after shopping in Turkey.

(I/Ts.)

[06] A "water platform" established in the occupation regime to prepare an action plan

The "water platform" discussed during the meeting their principles and an action plan to be prepared and share it with the "public" concerning their actions.

Speaking on behalf of the "platform", Ifran Celik, "chairman" of the "olive producers union", explained that the "platform" is against the draft agreement prepared by Turkey and the "TRNC" concerning the water management and supply.

Pointing out that the water should not be privatized since it is a basic and human right; Celik added that it should provide supply to the people and for agriculture use in the lowest price.

The "water platform" is composed by Dev-Is, BES, KTAMS, EL-Sen, Turk-Sen, KTOEOS, KTOS, BASIN-SEN trade unions, the Turkish Cypriot political parties: New Cyprus Party (YKP), United Cyprus Party (BKP), Social Democracy Party (TDP), Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP), the Famagusta Initiative, the Feminist Association, the "municipalities" of the occupied part of Lefkosia, Lefka, and Gialousa, the Kibris Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association and other organizations.

(AK)

[07] The "Entrepreneurship project" to be implemented in the occupation regime; Atun: "Priority will be given to disadvantaged areas such as Morfou and Karpasia"

As the paper writes, in the framework of the implementation of the project which is to be carried out under the slogan "new projects for the TRNC's future", the "TRNC" will provide incentives, such as free education and consultancy to persons who would like to establish a business in the "TRNC" and the amount of 100 thousand TL as a grant aid.

Speaking during a meeting organized with the participation of representatives from the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade (KTTO), the "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry" (KTSO), "the businessmen association", "the young businessmen association", the "women businessmen association" and others, so-called minister of economy, industry and trade Sunat Atun, said, inter alia, that within the framework of the project, priority will be given to disadvantaged areas such as occupied Morfou and Karpasia.

Atun explained further that the "entrepreneurship project" has been already implemented in Turkey with great success and added that the "TRNC's economy" needs to be strengthened as well.

(AK)

[08] Antiquities were found in occupied Keryneia

According to the paper, "archeologists" and "officials" of the so-called antiquities and museum department carried out inspections in the area and launched excavations.

In statements on the issue, Fuat Azimli, "director" of the "antiquities department" said that they will give more details on the issue after completing their work.

(AK)

[09] "The first international bicycle tour" is starting today in the breakaway regime

According to the paper, 11 teams from 5 countries are participating in the tour which is taking place between 19-21 of February. Athletes from Turkey, Bulgaria, Germany Kazakhstan, Serbia and Germany will participate in the tour which has a 5,000 dollars prize.

(CS)

[10] Cavusoglu urges US to cut ties with PYD/YPG terrorist organization

Cavusoglu's comments came during an official visit to Georgian capital Tbilisi, where he slammed the US for cooperating with the YPG and PYD, which are affiliated with the PKK, recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, EU and the US "Resorting to terrorist groups like the YPG in the fight against Deash in Syria is above all a sign of weakness", Cavusoglu said and added that the US, which is Turkey's ally must immediately stop this mistake.

Cavusoglu also underscored that Turkey will contribute actively in fight against Daesh terrorists.

The United States said it is not in a position to confirm or deny Turkey's charge and said that it 'has been careful to press the YPG/PYD and other Kurdish elements against Daesh militants and not to target Turkey'.

[11] Turkey continues to shell PYD positions in Syria's Azaz; Turkish military hits PYD targets in northern Syria with missiles

The latest round of shelling comes a day after a deadly bomb attack killed 28 people and injured dozens others in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Turkish military has been shelling PYD and PKK positions in northern Syria intermittently for six consecutive days in retaliation to artillery fire from PYD forces based around Azaz. Turkish security sources said artillery shells began pounding Azaz again on Thursday evening.

Furthermore, HDN (online, 19.02.16) reports that the Turkish military hit Syria's Democratic Union Party (PYD) targets in northern Syria with Stinger and I-HAWK missiles, a major change from previous operations that only included shelling targets.

The Turkish Armed Forces fired about five missiles stationed in the K?r?khan district of the southern province of Hatay on Feb. 18 around 10 p.m. at the PYD targets in Syria's Afrin province.

The army has also continued to fire missiles at PYD positions in northern Syria early Feb. 19.

[12] Turkey informs P5 and the EU on Ankara bomber's alleged PYD link

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu held separate meetings with the Ambassadors of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council (P5), the U.S., Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China as well as with envoys of Germany, the Netherlands (the current term president of the EU) and the EU Delegation in Ankara.

Earlier in the day, both President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced that the attack was conducted by a Syrian national and alleged he was a member of the People's Protection Units (YPG), the armed wing of the PYD.

Davutoglu told reporters that he instructed the Foreign Ministry to provide all necessary information about the Ankara incident, including evidence that supposedly proved that the YPG was behind the bombing.

[13] Turkey Rapporteur Kati Piri interviewed by Turkish daily; she accused the EU of insincerity

Supporting that the European Commission's decision to postpone the announcement of its progress report until after the November 2015 elections, has brought the Commission in a very bad and weak position, Piri referred also to Turkey's EU negotiation process and accused the EU of being insincere towards the issue of the opening of new chapters for Turkey. "In spite of the fact that the EU was not in favour of the opening of new chapters with Turkey during the recent years, suddenly it supports the opening of new chapters and this is not sincere at all. (?)".

Piri expressed also concerns over the freedoms in Turkey and the fact that the Turkish government did not move to any reforms and stressed that Turkey's EU process is totally related with the EU values. "If we speed up the process, of course it is necessary for Turkey to be developed. Whilst some EU countries connect the refugee problem with the process, they prove that they do not care at all about the standards and the values of the Union and they at the same time turn the process into a political one", Piri said and added that the EU gave a pretty bad signal by connecting it so directly to migration.

(AK)

[14] Commentary: "Turkish people feel US is helping killers"

"Those of us who believe in Turkish-American relations and who have received an award from the Turkish Atlantic Council in the past for our services to enhancing these relations are watching in alarm as Turkish public opinion progressively turns against the United States.

The Americans tried to impose their will on Turkey in the 1960s to prevent Turkish intervention in Cyprus and the famous Johnson letter and then in the 1970s when the American Congress imposed an arms embargo on Turkey that eventually paralyzed our U.S.-supplied air force after Turkey intervened in 1974 in Cyprus (editor's note: Turkish invasion to Cyprus in 1974 allegedly to save the Turkish Cypriots but the Turkish army still occupies the half island) to save the Turkish Cypriot community that was being slaughtered by Greek Cypriot hordes who had toppled the Makarios administration. Since then, the Turkish people have been looking up at the U.S. with mixed feelings of suspicion and respect for a superpower ally.

Many Turks did not like what they saw and heard as the Americans established a dominance in Northern Iraq in the Kurdish territories in the 1990s. Along with Turkey, Britain and France, the Americans helped to create a safe zone and a no-fly zone in northern Iraq that prohibited Saddam Hussein's forces from entering or flying planes. The operation called Provide Comfort also unfortunately allowed the Americans to court the PKK terrorists who were holed up in the Qandil Mountains in Northern Iraq. That is where many Syrian Kurds also joined the ranks of the PKK to launch terrorist attacks inside Turkey. Even today the American role in all this is still being questioned by many Turks.

When it comes to recent times, Turks continue to hear contact between the PKK and the U.S. despite the fact that Washington repeatedly says it regards the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Today, however, the picture is quite different. The so-called Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its fighting unit People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria are being openly supported by the US. The PYD and its sidekick the YPG have been borne out of the PKK and are being used by the PKK to infiltrate its militants into Turkey from northern Syria to terrorize cities and towns in southeastern Turkey. What is sad is that the arms and especially the ammunition captured by the PKK terrorists are American made. These are the arms and ammunition the U.S. gave to the PYD and YPG to fight DAESH terrorists.

What is even sadder is the fact that while the PYD has been misleading the Americans, saying that it aims to destroy DAESH, they have joined forces with the Assad regime, just like the Russians and the Iranians, to fight the Syrian opposition forces. The recent fight in the Azaz region just near the Turkish border is between the YPG forces and the opposition army. DAESH does not exist in the area. The YPG forces are also advancing on Tal Rifaat to take the city from Syrian opposition forces and thus strengthen the encirclement of Aleppo by the Assad forces. So the YPG and the PYD are in fact aiding Assad and are not at all fighting DAESH. All the Americans can do is to tell the PYD not to get carried away with expansionist ideals and get back to the fight against DAESH. Give them arms, provide them with logistical support and training and then try to tame the monster you have created. The Turkish public is watching this charade in anger and has started to question the value of our strategic alliance with the U.S. Can anyone blame them?"

[15] Commentaries on the Ankara bomb attack

But lingering questions about the lack of intelligence or police measures still have no satisfying answer, which might also signal certain consequences within the Turkish government, especially in the security bureaucracy."

Columnist Ismet Berkan, writing in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 19.02.16), under the title "Politics is also a way to fight terror", believes that "increasing security is an unavoidable method to fight terror but it is not the only weapon to use against terror". Berkan reports that "Turkey currently is at war with three terror organizations at the same time. First and foremost is the PKK. It is followed by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C). (?) There are developments that Turkey can control in the Syrian internal war; but there are also developments that are totally beyond the control of Turkey.

With each passing day, we witness a decrease in the number of developments Turkey can control."

Berkan further writes: "At the final analysis, the Syrians should be able to determine their fate themselves and that they should be able to do so in an environment devoid of violence. If the current regime is not toppling due to the strong foreign support it receives, one needs to see that. At any rate Turkey's priority cannot be Syria; the priority is Turkey and our security. And we need to prioritize three fundamental threats with routes in Syria". Berkan believes that Turkey should be open to the negotiation table.

Furthermore, columnist Lale Kemal, writing in Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 18.02.16), under the title "Turkey should return to its senses to overcome serious challenges", argued that at the end of the day, the terrorist groups have now sent the message that no part of Turkey is beyond their reach. She added that these attacks have also marked the resumption of unstable years for Turkey.

Kemal concluded: "Turkish stability was also undermined in parallel with the Turkish government and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's departure from democratic reforms, drifting Turkey towards authoritarian rule. This has also weakened the ability of the Turkish security and intelligence apparatus to be vigilant against terrorist groups as they have simultaneously been focusing on various dissenting groups critical of the government's policies".

Columnist Bulent Kenes, writing in Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 18.02.16), under the title "On war", reported that "Turkey's interests start from its borders. The security of Turkey and Turks is maintained within Turkey's borders. Any move beyond this will bring to the country disaster. This is my advice."

The following columnists, writing in Turkish daily Sabah (online, 19.02.16), are supportive of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and defend the policies of the Turkish government.

Columnist Cemil Ertem, under the title "Ankara terrorist attack is a milestone for Turkey", writes that "Turkey is aware that this recent terrorist attack is a result of a new war on sharing, which has been declared against itself and the whole of the world must realize it. Turkish intelligence units and security forces have unearthed that the PKK and the YPG perpetrated the terrorist attack in Ankara - which corroborates Turkey's argument that the YPG is a terrorist organization that is an affiliate of the PKK. This substantiation indicates that the Ankara attack is a milestone for Turkey. Turkey will never accept the organization and deployment of the YPG on the Syria border and will strengthen its redlines regarding the issue. This is a clear warning to the U.S. and the EU. As I stated above, this is a war on sharing against Turkey.

However, the process that we are going through is not a classical war on sharing, but a multidimensional one that has military, political, diplomatic, economic and commercial aspects. Therefore, it is a historical process that will determine the 21st century, rather than a cyclical situation."

Ertem, strongly believes, that in order to overcome this threat, Turkey aims to switch to a presidential system and highlight a new state tradition with a strategy. Turkey's objective of a transition to a presidential system and a new Constitution will be the first steps toward a stronger and more democratic country.

Columnist Ilnur Cevik, under the title "Backers of the PKK and PYD shoulder the responsibility", writes that the international community should quit condemning terror attacks and instead take concrete steps to end the growing atrocities. He argues that "the PKK has been carrying out its terrorist campaign in towns and cities and it is only normal that it would try to hit Turkey in the heart in view of the intensified counterterror campaign carried out by the government in the southeastern regions of Turkey. The fact that the target was the service buses that transport military personnel from the military headquarters shows that the PKK is taking revenge for the mounting PKK casualties in view of the successful counterterror campaign carried out by the special units of the police and the military."

Cevik believes that "it is time Turkey hit back at the PKK masterminds and if necessary at those in northern Syria who are actively supporting the Kurdish terrorists". TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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