Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 18-02-12

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/>

CONTENTS

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The Turkish MFA issued a statement regarding the hydrocarbon-related s activities of the Republic of Cyprus

[02] The regime accuses the Republic of Cyprus of trying to escalate tension and threatens with "counter steps"

[03] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers Turkey's aggressive actions in Eastern Mediterranean

[04] Akinci to inform political parties on Cyprus negotiations

[05] The program of the new "coalition government"

[06] Ulucay elected as new "speaker" of the so-called parliament

[07] Massive lawsuits to be submitted against the Republic of Cyprus by the children of mixed marriages

[08] Allegations say that some of the nine persons wanted for the incidents against Afrika newspaper work at the "Turkish army"

[09] Turkish Cypriot columnist comments on Arikli's statements

[10] Cavusoglu: We will either fix US relations or they will break down completely

[11] Turkish Justice Minister: Turkey to explore legal routes against US

[12] HDP elects Buldan, Temelli as new co-heads

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The Turkish MFA issued a statement regarding the hydrocarbon-related activities of the Republic of Cyprus

The statement is as follows:

"Despite all our warnings, the Greek Cypriot Administration continues its unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. It does so in disregard of the inalienable rights on natural resources of the Turkish Cypriot people, who are the co-owners of the Island. Within this context, we have most recently observed that there is an intention to commence activities in block number three in the Greek Cypriot Administration's so-called exclusive economic zone.

Turkey shares the justified concerns of the Turkish Cypriot people on this issue and supports the statement made on 10 February 2018 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. As we have repeatedly emphasized in the past, not only will we continue to protect our own rights and interests in our continental shelf, but we are also determined to take the necessary steps together with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus within the framework of our support to the Turkish Cypriot side. The sole responsibility for any situation that could arise as a consequence falls on the Greek Cypriot side, which, instead of expending efforts towards a just and lasting comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, persists in acting as though it were the sole owner of the Island and in continuing its unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities.

This attitude of the Greek Cypriot side, which does not shy away from irresponsibly jeopardizing the security and stability of the Eastern Mediterranean region, is actually the fundamental reason behind the failure of the Cyprus settlement negotiations to produce an outcome for the past half-century. It will be recalled that during the Conference on Cyprus which convened last year, the Greek Cypriots demonstrated once again their unwillingness to accept a partnership with the Turkish Cypriots on the basis of political equality, and that because of this, the Conference closed without a settlement. And as long as the Greek Cypriot Administration continues its unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities, it will remain evident just how far removed the Greek Cypriot side is from perceiving the Turkish Cypriots as their equal partners.

We also make use of this opportunity to strongly emphasize our expectation that companies centered in third countries refrain from supporting, through cooperation with the Greek Cypriot Administration in the area of hydrocarbons, this unconstructive Greek Cypriot attitude which also constitutes a major obstacle to the settlement of the Cyprus issue."

[02] The regime accuses the Republic of Cyprus of trying to escalate tension and threatens with "counter steps"

In a written statement issued the day before yesterday, the "ministry" claimed also that "as long as steps which ignore our rights are taken and cooperation is avoided, we as TRNC will not refrain from taking counter steps together with Turkey". "We feel the need to once more stress our determination to take concrete steps within the forthcoming period by taking into consideration the international agreements we have signed in the past and the licensing made", alleged the statement.

Furthermore, the "ministry" alleged that the Greek Cypriot leadership has turned the natural wealth in Eastern Mediterranean into a "means of inviting tension" and claimed that "the fact that all our statements and calls, which are based on the logic of cooperation and reconciliation are ignored, is saddening". The statement alleges also the following:

"[�] It is seen that the natural gas research activities of Italian ENI energy company are this time sliding into the area they have called as Parcel 3 in the 'Exclusive Economic Zone', which the Greek Cypriot administration unilaterally declared. This action, which is unacceptable for us, in spite of all our warnings, shows that the Greek Cypriot leadership insists on increasing tension in the area. [�]

The only reason for the fact that the constructive proposals made by the Turkish Cypriot side in the past on the issue of the fair and just sharing of the natural resources in the sea surrounding the island were not materialized, is the fact that the Greek Cypriot side opposes to making a cooperation and follows an rejectionist stance. This approach of the Greek Cypriot side does not only remain limited with the natural gas, it deals a blow to the searches for reconciliation between the two sides and mainly the Cyprus problem. The Greek Cypriot leadership confirms that it is not ready to share the administration and the wealth with the Turkish Cypriot people, not only with its stance in the Cyprus negotiations but at the same time with its approach on the issue of the natural wealth around the island. These latest developments show that unfortunately the findings which were included in the UNSG's report 14 years ago are still valid today. A partnership, however this will be, is possible only by sharing and cooperating and not by ignoring the legitimate interests and rights of the sides concerned. [�]"

(I/Ts.)

[03] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers Turkey's aggressive actions in Eastern Mediterranean

Under the title "We will take the necessary steps", Halkin Sesi reports that Turkey reacted to the activities by the "Greek Cypriot side", as it describes the government of the Republic of Cyprus, in Eastern Mediterranean. The paper notes that as it has been reported six Turkish war ships are near Parcel 3 of Cyprus' EEZ and that the Republic of Cyprus has filed a complaint on the issue to the EU and the US.

Kibrisli refers to the issue under the title "Full support by Turkey to the statement of TRNC's foreign ministry" and notes that in the statement issued yesterday by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Turkey expresses full support to the statement issued by the breakaway regime's "foreign ministry" on the same matter two days ago.

Vatan covers the statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry under the front-page banner title "Hard reaction by Turkey to the Greek Cypriot administration!" Moreover, in his commentary in the same paper under the title "Drilling in the Mediterranean", Osman Guvenir wonders who will believe the Greek Cypriots when they say that the Turkish Cypriots will also benefit from the island's resources and argues that the Greek Cypriots should, however, know that they will not have to face the Turks of the island, but "in front of them there is a huge Turkey which defends our rights and takes a stand with its warships". "There is an expression I have always been using: 'Cyprus is not ours anymore, it belongs to Turkey'", he alleges.

Demokrat Bakis publishes the statement under the front-page banner title "Reaction by Turkey to the Greek Cypriot administration".

Under the title "Waters do not calm down", Star Kibris reports that while the Turkish Foreign Ministry has once more warned the Greek Cypriots for their activities on the hydrocarbons issue in the Mediterranean, the "Greek Cypriot government", as the paper calls the government of the Republic of Cyprus, stated that it would undertake initiatives in various directions.

Ortam covers the developments under the title "The waters became warm again" and reports that tension in the Mediterranean increased after the statement by the Republic of Cyprus that the Italian ENI company has found a significant quantity of natural gas in Parcel 6, which is located in Antalya's open sea. The paper notes that ENI's vessel proceeded towards Parcel 3 in occupied Famagusta's open sea, but it faced the obstacle of Turkish warships. The vessel stopped and decided to wait until a new direction comes from ENI's headquarters in Italy and "tension was created for a short period".

Writing in his column in Kibris Postasi, Gokhan Altiner notes that the statement made the day before yesterday by the self-styled ministry of foreign affairs reminded him of Tahsin Ertugruloglu, former "foreign minister" known for his "hawkish stance" on the Cyprus problem. Under the title "Ozersay reminded me of Ertugruloglu", Altiner reports that the newly appointed "foreign minister" Kudret Ozersay had created the impression to many that he was a "solution supporter" in Cyprus, because he had been the negotiator of the Turkish Cypriot side for a long time. "However, contrary to what is believed, Ozersay has a conservative view", he notes and explains: "I do not want to say that he does not want a solution. I want to say that his line is hawkish and on rightwing point. Because nowadays president Akinci makes statements against the Greek Cypriots � and Akinci is saying the realities- I am sure that Ozersay is very uncomfortable due to the fact that he cannot attack Akinci in any manner. The recent statement made by Ozersay as regards the Greek Cypriot side almost reminded me of former foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu. Mr Tahsin [�] was making a statement attacking the Greek Cypriot side every week. [�] Ozersay is also continuing this habit, as I understand. [�]"

(I/Ts.)

[04] Akinci to inform political parties on Cyprus negotiations