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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 18-11-27Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review-27.11.18 No. 228/18 Contents[A] Turkish Cypriot Press
[B] Turkish Press
[A] Turkish Cypriot Press[01] Akinci says that Lute had asked to visit Turkey on 5 or 6 DecemberIllegal Bayrak (27.11.18, http://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=akinci-gives-interview-to-cnn-turk) broadcast that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has said that the two sides in Cyprus must reach an agreement on the terms of reference in order for the negotiations to resume. In statements yesterday to CNN Turk television, Akinci noted that the UNSG in his latest report had clearly stated that another 50 years could not be wasted on negotiations and argued: "Different from previous reports, UNSG Antonio Guterres in his report stated that any new process could not be open-ended and had to be result-oriented".Noting that UNSG's temporary Special Envoy, Jane Holl Lute had asked for an appointment from Turkey, Akinci said: "I have learned that Lute has asked for an appointment from the Turkish government for the first week of December, possible for the 5th or 6th. She has yet to ask us for an appointment. It is most likely she will be meeting with us after her visits to the guarantor states". According to Akinci, Lute aimed at completing the process of drafting the terms of reference by the end of this year. Referring to President Anastasiades' proposal for a decentralized federation, Akinci alleged that it was surprising to see what he called as a "switch in the Greek Cypriot side's official position". He claimed: "For years we argued in favor of a federation, in which more powers resided with the constituent states. The Greek Cypriots had argued the opposite. They had supported a federation with a stronger center and weaker constituent states. Now all of a sudden, Anastasiades came up with this. We are not closed to this idea. I have said this from day one. We are ready to discuss a process which will not be open-ended. I would like to underline this because the Greek Cypriots want the continuation of the status quo". Akinci also argued that he needed to be realistic as the Turkish Cypriot side would not accept a unitary state model nor did reaching a confederation seem to be achievable. He expressed the view that the UN parameters were not bad and should not be discarded. "I am not even able to travel to Azerbaijan as president", he added. Referring to the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, Akinci alleged that the Greek Cypriot side had opted for tension rather than cooperation and that this had prompted Turkey to justifiably take action. Commenting on the recent unofficial meetings held by the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu with the President Anastasiades and the General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou, Akinci said that he had been informed of the meetings and that he was not bothered by them. "From what I understand these contacts will not resume", he added. Akinci also said that the Turkish Cypriot side should not fall at odds with the UN and argued: "The minute I tell the UN that these parameters are dead and no longer valid, they will hold the Turkish Cypriots responsible, putting the blame on our shoulders. I would not allow something like this to happen". [02] Ozersay argued that a lasting stability in the region is possible through temporary arrangements without having to reach a final Cyprus settlementAccording to illegal Bayrak television (27.11.18, http://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=ozersay-attends-international-meeting-in-italy), Kudret Ozersay, self-styled deputy prime minister and foreign minister, is continuing his contacts in Italy.Speaking to the "TAK news agency" after attending an international conference organised by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation on the issue of hydrocarbons, Ozersay said that they were conveying the Turkish Cypriot side's positions at various international platforms so that approaches which take into account the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people could be developed. "By exchanging views with policy or decision makers or those who can influence the views of policy or decision makers on the issue of hydrocarbons, we are allowing everyone to understand our foreign policy", he explained. Underlining the need for the two sides in Cyprus to adopt a model of cooperation, Ozersay claimed: "A lasting stability in this region is possible through temporary arrangements and mutual dependency between the two sides without having to reach a lasting, just and comprehensive settlement". Ozersay further claimed that the two sides had been engaged in 50 years of talks on a theoretical and abstract future and argued: "We are unable to focus on today because of the time and energy we are spending on this. This is where the problem lies. Concrete steps from the bottom up and a relationship based on cooperation is inevitable". He concluded by adding that the time had come to think about this more seriously. [03] Erhurman: "We are struggling not only for the solution of the Cyprus problem but also for the economic and social development of the TRNC"Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (27.11.18) reports that so-called prime minister Tufan Erhurman, in statements yesterday in a ceremony which took place in a hotel in Istanbul where Turkish Cypriots who live in Istanbul were also present, stated that they should struggle in two directions simultaneously, not only for the solution of the Cyprus problem but also for the economic and social development of the "TRNC" and the Turkish Cypriots.Stressing to importance of political equality for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Erhurman alleged that after President Nicos Anastasiades' latest developments, it became more visible why there is a problem in the substance of the Cyprus problem. He further argued that in spite of the openings that Turkey made in Crans Montana, which had also caused a surprise, the sides returned from Crans Montana with no result. Referring to President Anastasiades' proposal on a "loose federation", Erhurman said that a "loose federation" does not cause any distress to the Turkish Cypriots, since it is a model that provides more authorities to the "founding states". Erhurman alleged also the following: "But after he explained why he is submitting this proposal, the issue became clearer. What he has said is the following: "It was a proposal which was made so as to come to the position of which the Turkish Cypriots would not have effective participation in the decision making organs of the founding states". The meaning of this proposal in one sense was that it would provide to the Turkish Cypriots the rights that would have been provided to a minority. Our response to Anastasiades, not only coming from Turkey but also from the TRNC, the president of the TRNC, the foreign minister and the prime minister, was that this could not be accepted. Political equality and the effective part icipation of the Turkish Cypriots in the decision-making organs is a sine qua non for us. These issues are of vital importance to us". Pointing out that President Anastasiades is trying with his statements to explain that his proposal is related with the functionality of the state, Erhurman argued that in order for a state to be functional, none of the sides should be excluded from the decision-making. Referring to the hydrocarbon issue, Erhurman said that if the natural wealth around Cyprus is distributed to the sides, then these natural resources could serve both sides, but if it is not distributed as he said, it would become the reason for tension. Meanwhile, illegal Bayrak television
(BRT-27.11.18-http://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=pm-erhurman-speaks-at-9th-bosphorus-summit
2/4) broadcast that so-called prime minister Erhurman, delivering a speech
on the second day of the 9th Bosphorus Summit which is being held under
a theme "Sustaining Peace and Development for All", alleged that the
"concept determined as the title of the summit is very inspirational as
it is a concept chosen for reaching peace".
Erhurman argued that peace in Cyprus could only be reached through
sharing the island's resources fairly.
Giving the developments on the Mexican border and Cyprus as examples,
he alleged that it would not be possible to achieve a settlement unless
everyone benefited from development.
"Peace will be reached if the wealth of the region is shared
fairly. Failure to do so will only result in tensions" he added.
Also referring to the 1960 Cyprus Republic in his speech, Erhurman
said that despite the fact that the 1960 Republic was a partnership;
an understanding that everything on the island should be shared was
never allowed to settle in.
He alleged also that the Turkish Cypriot side's calls for sustainable
peace fell on deaf ears. "Had the island be reunified with the 2004
referendum, the current hydrocarbon crisis would not have emerged
and the island's wealth would have been shared fairly today. However,
despite the fact the Greek Cypriots rejected the plan, they became an
EU member and the opportunity was lost", Erhurman further said.
Claiming that despite all the negative developments which followed,
the Turkish Cypriot side today continues to speak the language of peace,
he further said: "This however does not mean we will abandon our rights".
Erhurman pointed out that the hydrocarbons discovered off the coast
of Cyprus belonged to everyone living on the island. "No one should
have any doubts. The hydrocarbons discovered on the island belong to
everyone. There were two founding partners in the 1960 Republic and that
meant that Turkish Cypriots had an equal right and say on everything
on this island. Unfortunately the Greek Cypriots acted unilaterally and
ignored the rights of the Turkish Cypriots", he said.
Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side, despite all the injustices
committed against it have been proposing alternatives on the issue of
hydrocarbon exploration to the Greek Cypriots since 2010, Erhurman argued
that the most outstanding of these proposals were to either suspend all
activities until a settlement was reached or to create a joint committee
to deal with the issue.
"Our goal was to regain the motivation we lost in 2004 but our proposals
were ignored by the other side. They left us with no choice but to act
together with Turkey to carry out our own hydrocarbon exploration",
Erhurman further claimed, accusing the Greek Cypriot side of issuing
licenses for exploration and for ignoring the will of the Turkish Cypriot
side in the process.
Describing the activities carried out by international oil companies as
unlawful and illegitimate, Erhurman added: "We do not accept Anastasiades'
promises to transfer revenues to be generated from hydrocarbons to a
fund to be used as and when a settlement is reached".
(AK)
Izcan went on calling the two sides not to sabotage the process by
discussing new issues.
In written statement, Izcan said that following President Nicos
Anastasiades' statements which contradicted with his own proposal on a
decentralized federation, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's
statements that they were ready for a decentralized federation, a
confederation and a two state solution were all against the framework
of the Guterres document. "Such approaches do not serve for peace but
the division on the island", Izcan said.
Commenting also on Cavusoglu's remarks who claimed that the bi-zonal
federation solution is Akinci's personal position and that "both the
Turkish Cypriot government and the Turkish Cypriots as well have the right
to speak", Izcan supported that these remarks revealed that there is a
serious crack between the sides. "President Akinci has taken the approval
of the Turkish Cypriot community regarding the aim that is the federal
united Cyprus and thus as the elective president of the community, acts
in this sense and expresses the community's' position. Akinci represents
the Turkish Cypriot community. The BKP will continue supporting the
policy for a federal united Cyprus and will further continue protecting
Turkish Cypriots' existence and identity", added Izcan.
(AK)
Hakan Gunduz, in Turkish Cypriot newspaper K?br?s (27.11.18), recalls
that Cavusoglu has openly said that he disagreed with Turkish Cypriot
leader Akinci, arguing that the views expressed by Akinci were "his
personal ones" and he did not "fully represent" the Turkish Cypriots. The
columnist recalls also that Cavusoglu claimed that the Turkish Cypriots
were also represented by their "government" and "people".
Gunduz notes that Cavusoglu's statements were directed against the leader
of the Turkish Cypriots, who was elected with 65% of the votes and points
out the following: "[?] By saying that his views do not fully reflect
the will of the community, they are personal, he did this against the
will of the Turkish Cypriots. This is not surprising. This situation is
the very 'reality' in our social and political life. It did not surprise
those like us who say that the structure we have created has serious
deficiencies for being a state. However, those who believe that 'we are a
fully independent, legitimate TRNC' and defend this understanding until
the end, should ask the question of 'what does this mean'.
This declaration is the most important turning point of the recent
years. It is a junction. In such a critical process this statement,
which has been made by taking the risk, taking into consideration the
possibility of causing many unfavorable situations from the tactical point
of view, is candidate for conceiving very bitter political developments".
Furthermore, columnist Sami Ozuslu in Turkish Cypriot newspaper Yeni
Duzen (27.11.18) writes the following in his article under the title
"The Turkish Cypriots do not exist at the negotiating table":
"[?] Especially the Turkish Cypriots have now been completely
sidelined. 'Motherland' Turkey is trying to continue the process alone
by 'by-passing' the Turkish Cypriots, 'equal partners' of the island. By
changing modality and tactics, Foreign Minister Cavusoglu is doing things
which develop the dialogue between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus,
because the leader of the Turkish Cypriots and the majority of the
political parties did not accept the 'confederal' model. First he met with
President Anastasiades and afterwards with AKEL party leader Kyprianou. No
one in the northern part of Cyprus knows what he discussed! And now he
is directly giving messages to the Greek Cypriot community through the
press, he is weighing the reactions and he is trying the influence. 'I
am the boss in Cyprus', he says! When things are like this, why should
the leaders of the Republic of Cyprus meet with the Turkish C ypriot
leader? In brief, Cavusoglu succeeded: The Turkish Cypriots have totally
stopped being a 'subject' in Cyprus. Or so they think!"
Finally, Gokhan Altiner in Turkish Cypriot newspaper K?br?s
Postas? (27.11.18) wonders "why Ankara has discredited Akinci" and
argues that Ankara did not only discredited a leader elected by 62%
of the votes, but also led to passiveness a politician who was elected
by promising a federal solution to the Turkish Cypriots. He notes:
"I evaluate this as an extremely needless and dangerous development. [?]
I think that there was no need for Ankara to do this at this stage. I
have not understood why a country like Turkey, which attaches high
importance to the state good manners, resorted to this way. [?]"
(I/Ts.)
She notes that heavily armed "policemen" had patrolled the streets and
conducted body searches. She also publishes a picture showing a student
from Nigeria, who had kneeled down and put his hands up in front of an
armed "police officer". Sonay says that the student had been afraid in
the beginning and tried to run away. Trying to justify his behavior,
the student said: "In my country the Boko haram war exists. I am afraid
of guns. This is why I ran away".
The columnist points out: "I think that I also would feel fear and not
secure, if I saw in front of me persons heavily armed and camouflaged,
while I was walking in the street. It is really very difficult to
understand why the police chose such a frightening way for an ordinary
'public order' control. It is definite that the images which came up
in the end of the day, are not pictures of a country 'which is not safe'".
On the same issue, columnist Sener Levent in Turkish Cypriot newspaper
Afrika (27.11.18) notes that the above-mentioned incident took place in
occupied Famagusta and wonders whether the "martial law" existed in the
occupied area of Cyprus. He says that the "citizens" who saw the heavily
armed "police officers" recalled the images and controls they saw after
the attempted military coup in Turkey. He notes:
"[?] They say that they are arresting illegals! First you have turned the
country into an inn where everybody enters in an uncontrolled manner. You
piled up population here to surpass the Greek Cypriot population. It seems
to me that, in a sense, all this is done to scare the Greek Cypriots,
who cross over to the north. There are anyway Greek Cypriots who are
afraid of the Turkish army and for this reason they still have not passed
to the north. After seeing these images, will they not be more afraid?"
(I/Ts.)
According to a written statement issued by UBP, Tatar's scheduled visit
to Ankara for tomorrow at the invitation of Turkey's Foreign Minister
Mevlut Cavusoglu, has been postponed due to Cavusoglu's intensified
program ahead of the developments and the tension in Russia-Ukraine.
(AK)
According to the paper, the "ministerial council decision" was published
in the "official gazette" of the occupation regime.
After the "decision", the number of the stone quarries in the occupied
area of Cyprus has dropped from 54 to 46, writes the paper. Four out of
the 8 stone quarries are located in the occupied village of Larnakas
tis Lapythou, 2 in the occupied village of Filia and the remaining
in Bellapais.
(AK)
Erdogan further said: "Those who are trembling in the flow of refugees,
are quitting when the issue is becoming political and economic. At this
moment, there are 4.5 million people sheltered in Turkey and on the other
side; there are those who are buried in the waters of the Aegean and
the Mediterranean. We, as Turkey, will never give up our own positions
neither in the Eastern Mediterranean nor in other places."
On the same issue, according to Turkey's presidency
(https://www.tccb.gov.tr/haberler/410/99808/-akdeniz-de-ekonomik-ve-siyasi-h-kimiyet-kurmak-isteyenlere-firsat-vermeyecegiz-),
President Erdogan, at his AKP's Parliamentary Group Meeting, also said
"We will not allow those, who want to establish economic and political
hegemony over areas in the Mediterranean, on which they have no rights,
by taking advantage of the fact that some countries are dealing with
their own domestic issues."
Noting that those who quake in their boots in the face of the refugee
influx, throw their weight around when it comes to oil, natural gas and
political gain, President Erdogan said: "It is hypocritical that those,
who do not fulfil their duties to humanity, push all rules and practices
for their (own) economic interests. We are not buying these games which
have been played against us over and over again in the past. We, as
Turkey, will not make even the slightest concession from our own theses
in the eastern Mediterranean or in any other area. And we will defend
our nation's and friend's rights to the end."
Pointing to the escalating tension in the Black Sea, President Erdogan
said: "It saddens us that the long-standing incidents between Russia and
Ukraine, which appeared to have subsided for a while, have rekindled. As
a country, which sees both Russia and Ukraine as close friends and wants
to carry its deep cooperation with both countries to the future, we want
the Black Sea to become a 'sea of peace' as soon as possible. Therefore,
we reiterate our call to our Russian and Ukrainian friends to resolve
their problems through dialogue."
(DPs)
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Mersin, on the Mediterranean coast,
Donmez said the country would continue its drilling activities for the
exploration of natural gas and oil sources in the region as part of
Turkey's aim to be energy independent. He also stated that based on the
country's current exploration licenses, Turkish engineers initially plan
to open two shallow sea wells.
In the scope of this shallow well project that will run for two
months, the first well will be drilled off the North Erdemli location,
119 nautical miles from land and at a depth of around 101 meters. He
explained that Turkey also would like to diversify its energy portfolio
with new projects in different energy fields. "Through these drilling
activities, and based on these [diversification] strategies, not only
will Turkey benefit from the outcomes, but also regional energy markets
will fundamentally be affected," he added.
On the same issue, Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (27.11.18,
https://www.dailysabah.com/energy/2018/11/27/turkey-expands-gas-exploration-with-second-offshore-drilling-in-mediterranean)
reports that Donmez also stressed that Turkey's energy projects did
not only serve the country but made significant contributions to the
regional economy and politics. "Our main concern is to fully exercise
our legal rights and economically exploit our own resources. Turkey is
acting in line with its own energy strategy," Donmez added.
The paper further reports: "The drilling platform will be transferred to
Adana after two months of operations in Mersin and will start drilling
for Kuzup?nar?-1 well in the Mediterranean town. The drilling offshore
of Adana will last four months at the well that will reach a depth of
4,100 meters.
Minister Donmez said that Turkey has a crucial role in regional and
international energy markets. The size of the Turkish economy, the rising
energy demand, the country's geostrategic importance and its political
stability renders it an indispensable energy partner.
He highlighted the efforts to decrease Turkey's dependence on imported
energy and the necessity for the country to change the dynamics, stressing
that these efforts in the Mediterranean with new wells point to the
intensified efforts to transform Turkey's energy outlook and policy.
As Turkey prepares for the purchase of a second drillship in December,
it continues to reinforce its claim in the hydrocarbon resources of the
Mediterranean with full commitment to protecting its own rights and the
sovereign rights of the Turkish Cypriots." (?)
(?)
"The Turkish nation has made intense efforts to frustrate the blockades
and sanctions against the Qatari brothers. Qatar was among the countries
that gave the strongest support to our country in the international arena
after the July 15, 2016, treacherous coup attempt. In recent months,
it has stood by us in the face of speculative initiatives targeting our
economy. I would like to take this opportunity to express my special
gratitude once again to our loyal friend Qatar and its people for their
support and solidarity," Erdogan added.
Referring to the meeting with Qatari Emir Al Thani, Erdogan stressed
that the two sides have expressed their strong will to further deepen
bilateral relations.
The meeting was considered important as the two countries are eager
to accomplish various goals in many sectors. The meeting discussed the
opportunities to further develop cooperation between the two countries
in various fields, and exchange views on regional issues.
A number of agreements on transportation, trade and economy were signed
between the two countries during the meeting. On many occasions, Ankara
and Doha have demonstrated that they are partners that exchange material
and moral support and have close coordination during hardships.
The fraternal ties between the two allies gained significant momentum,
particularly after the start of the Gulf crisis and the failed coup
attempt in the summer of 2016, during which Turkey and Qatar strongly
supported each other.
(?)
Asked about last week's visit to Ankara by EU Foreign Policy Chief
Federica Mogherini and Johannes Hahn, the bloc's Commissioner for
Enlargement Negotiations and Neighbourhood Policy, Cavusoglu said it had
been the "best and most productive" meeting with EU representatives in
several years.
Citing recent protests in France over rising fuel taxes, Cavusoglu said
the EU regarded the French government's reaction to demonstrators as
"unacceptable". "However, Europeans in the past tried to school us during
the Gezi incidents," he added, referring to a nationwide wave of protests
against the Turkish government in the summer of 2013.
He reiterated that Turkey continues to aim to be a full member of the
bloc while noting that the EU did not hold up its side of the 2016
refugee deal with Ankara by failing to open negotiations regarding any
of the five chapters for accession to which it had vowed.
Cavusoglu also highlighted the "fallacy" of the EU in seeking to school
Turkey in judicial independence, citing the case of Can Dundar, a former
editor-in-chief of a Turkish daily who was convicted of espionage. (?)
On a recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordering
the release of a Turkish opposition leader facing terror charges,
Cavusoglu claimed there were "many EU countries that do not execute
ECHR decisions". He added that Turkey would apply to the grand chamber
of the ECHR to appeal against the ruling. (?)
Speaking to the parliamentary group of the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AKP) he is leading, Erdogan revealed on Nov. 27 the names of the
candidates for the provinces of Ankara, Izmir, Afyonkarahisar, Bal?kesir,
Bingol, Canakkale, Cank?r?, Corum, Eskisehir, Hatay, Karaman, Konya,
Mardin, Mus, Sakarya, Sivas, Tokat, Trabzon, Usak, Yozgat.
AKP deputy chair Mehmet Ozhaseki was nominated for the capital Ankara
and Nihat Zeybekci, the deputy chair of the economy policies council of
the Presidency, will run for Izmir. (?)
The local elections in 81 provinces and hundreds of districts in Turkey
are scheduled to be held on March 31, 2019.
Erdogan is expected to announce the remaining candidates of his party,
including the mayoral nominee from Istanbul, following his official
visit to South America.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli endorsed the AKP's
candidates to run for mayor of the three largest provinces of Turkey,
Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.
In this regard, the MHP will not nominate any candidate in these
provinces. In return, the AKP will support MHP candidates where the
nationalist party is popular, such as Adana, Mersin, Osmaniye, Manisa
and Isparta provinces along with the Etimesgut and Alanya districts.
Meanwhile, the Aksaray Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on Monday issued
detention warrants for seven people who were dismissed from military
schools over Gulen links. Five of them have been detained by police thus
far. (?)
Meanwhile, according to Turkish daily Yeni Safak newspaper (27.11.18,
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-arrests-23-pkk-terrorists-plotting-istanbul-attack-3467528),
twenty-three members of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK),
who were plotting an attack on Nov. 27 in Istanbul, were arrested in an
operation conducted by Turkish security forces on Tuesday. (?)
Simultaneous raids of 28 addresses in 10 of Istanbul's districts were
conducted by the Istanbul Security Directorate's counterterrorism
squads. Digital material and documents related to the terror group were
seized during the operation. (?)
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/EH)
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