Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12.09.18
Contents
1. Nami says that the “ball” for bringing electricity from Turkey is in Ankara’s court
2. They gain millions from occupied Greek Cypriot properties
3. Baybars evaluates her contacts in Ankara
4. Three persons arrested in the occupied area of Cyprus with the accusation of links to FETO
5. Schools begin with shortages in the breakaway regime
6. More protests to come in the occupied area of Cyprus
1. Turkey, Russia and Iran reach 'agreement in principle' on Syria Constitutional Committee lists
3. Turkey signs agriculture, oil exploration deals with Sudan
4. Turkey deploys observers to giant Russian-Chinese military exercise Vostok
5. Turkey’s MIT nabs terror suspect in Syria’s Latakia with 'pinpoint operation'
A.Turkish Cypriot Press
1. Nami says that the “ball” for bringing electricity from Turkey is in Ankara’s court
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS (12.09.18) newspaper reports that Ozdil Nami, self-styled minister of economy and energy of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that they have started working on the issues of brining electricity from Turkey with undersea cables and using renewable energy sources and added that the ball is in Turkey’s court on these issues.
Speaking to members of the Turkish Cypriot chamber of industry, Nami recalled that they are discussing the issue of interconnecting their electricity networks with Turkey and of making use of solar energy. “The ball is not in our court anymore, it is in Turkey’s court”, he said. Noting that they are holding contacts with the Turkish Cypriot electricity “authority” (KIB-TEK), Nami argued the following: “Investments will be made in the field of electricity, but things will not be like before. We should have access to cheap electricity”.
Referring to the devaluation of the Turkish lira, Nami admitted that it caused a decrease in their purchase power, even though the developments do not depend on them. He alleged that during the establishment of the current self-styled government, the occupation regime’s economy was at the 114th place among 144 countries, adding that their competitive power decreased and that they should sit with Turkey to discuss the issue of incentives and credits for increasing production.
(I/Ts.)
2. They gain millions from occupied Greek Cypriot properties
Under the title “Whose property are you selling and to whom?” Turkish Cypriot daily AFRİKA (12.09.18) newspaper reports that a plot of land in occupied Agios Amvrosios area is for sale for two million sterling pounds, according to a sign put in front of this land, which occupies an area of 20 donums [Translator’s note: One donum is a land measure of about 1000 square meters]. The paper describes this sign as “the most recent live evidence of looting and plundering” and notes that this sign aroused great interest on the social media and caused broad reactions. The paper writes also the following:
“Agios Amvrosios is the favorite area of the plunderers recently. A few years ago, a person from the Black Sea had sold 27 donums of land in Agios Amvrosios for 800 thousand sterling pounds. Now its value has further increased. 20 donums are sold for two million sterling pounds”.
Referring to the issue, columnist Hasan Hasturer in Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (12.09.18) reports that he was the one who shared two photos yesterday on social media showing two plots of land which are for sale in occupied Agios Amvrosios adding that he did this because the issue attracted his attention. Under the title “The wound of lack of justice is not healed”, Hasturer notes that these plots of land were put up for sale for 600 thousand and two million sterling pounds respectively.
Publishing some to the comments made under these pictures, the columnist says: “This article’s aim is not to scratch the wound. It is to contribute in the perception of a reality. There is no justice in the sharing of plunder. The immovable properties, which remained from Greek Cypriots, would be utilized. Otherwise economy could not be constructed. However, there have been so unfair practices that the wound continues bleeding, in spite of the fact that 44 years have passed […]”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Baybars evaluates her contacts in Ankara
Under the title “Important step in Ankara”, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (12.09.18) reports that self-styled minister of interior Aysegul Baybars, who carried out yesterday contacts in Ankara with Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and the Turkish Minister for Justice Abdulhamit Gul, said that important steps have been taken in cooperation with Turkey in the fight against organised crime and judicial assistance.
According to illegal Bayrak (12.09.18, http://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=baybars-completes-ankara-contacts), Baybars, evaluating her contacts to “BRT”, said that “cooperation in the field of justice, the technical aspects of the new prison being constructed and the creation of a forensics institute and a cybercrime unit were amongst the issues discussed during the meetings”. She also added that “the creation of an online system to run checks at entries and exits to the country was amongst the issues we discussed on preventing crime”.
Baybars also said that she had found the opportunity to discuss “the urban security management law, adding that work had already been carried out on the law in line with a protocol signed by her predecessor and Minister Soylu”.
She explained that she had discussed the technical aspects of the new state prison including the training of the prison staff and equipment for prison officers. “We are planning to complete the new prison by the beginning of 2019” she added.
Baybars also pointed out that there is currently a unit dealing with cybercrimes but that a forensics lab which could carry out detailed analysis did not exist and added: “We discussed how we could establish such a lab or a forensics institute”.
(DPs)
4. Three persons arrested in the occupied area of Cyprus with the accusation of links to FETO
Under the title “The arrests have begun”, Turkish Cypriot daily Nacak newspaper (12.09.18) reports that the names of some businessmen, bureaucrats and casino owners were revealed during a court testimony at the 8th criminal court in Diyarbakir, Turkey, of a suspect regarding the structure and activities of FETO in the occupied area of Cyprus. After this testimony, the operations to arrest suspects of links to FETO organizations have been launched in the occupied area of Cyprus.
According to the paper, “three persons, who were arrested yesterday in Keryneia as part of the operations, were brought before the district court of Keryneia after a police interrogation, where it was decided to remain under police custody for three days, while the police investigations are continuing”.
Meanwhile, the paper reports that while the structure and the activities of FETO in the occupied area of Cyprus came into the agenda, the “minister of interior” Aysegul Baybars was discussing issues of cooperation on security and judicial assistance with the Turkish Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu in Ankara.
(DPs)
5. Schools begin with shortages in the breakaway regime
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (12.08.18) reports that the new academic year is starting in the breakaway regime with a lot of shortages in many aspects and notes that only 132 teachers’ position opened while there is need for 180 in schools.
Commenting on the issue, the self-styled minister of education Cemal Ozgiyit stated that the remaining 50 positions will be covered with the system of personal contracts. He also stated that unfortunately the economic crisis, which was the result of the falling of the Turkish Lira, is reflected in education as well.
(CS)
6. More protests to come in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily AFRİKA (12.09.18) newspaper reports that El-Sen, the trade union of the employees in the breakaway regime’s “electricity authority” (KIB-TEK), has decided to go on a strike on Thursday and protest for the 30% increase which is considered to be made to the price of electricity. The trade union will protest to the prolonging of the agreement with private Turkish AKSA company after 2023 and the increase of the guarantee of purchase [paid to the above company].
Moreover, the drivers who are members of Kar-Is trade union stated that they would not carry the students to school on Monday as they could not receive a response by the “government” to their demand of readjusting the fees.
Finally, the trade union of the “civil servants” (Kamu-Sen) asked for a salary increase of 30-40% in the end of September for its members. Commenting on the agreement reached between the “government” and the livestock breeders, Kamu-Sen’s chairman Metin Atan said: “[…] As a result of negotiations held on 10 September the livestock breeders’ union and the government reached an agreement. This means that the civil servants should also hold a demonstration to get the upper hand in safeguarding our rights. Of course, we do not want to drag the country into chaos but if everyone who holds a demonstration will get their rights, the civil servants and the private sector employees who are in the most difficult situation should also organize demonstrations […]”.
(I/Ts.)
B. Turkish Press
1. Turkey, Russia and Iran reach 'agreement in principle' on Syria Constitutional Committee lists
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (11.09.18-http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-russia-iran-reach-agreement-in-principle-on-syria-constitutional-committee-lists-136735) reported that Turkey, Russia and Iran have reached an "agreement in principle" on the lists of Syrian regime and opposition lists to form a Constitutional Committee.
The representatives of the three guarantor countries met with the UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura on Sept. 10-11 in Geneva.
"During the meeting, they discussed the formation of a Constitutional Committee and its codes of practice which constitute an important step in the struggle of finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sept. 11.
The Ministry said an agreement in principle, regarding the lists that were proposed by the Syrian regime and opposition, was discussed. Also consultation was held on the formation of a third civil society group.
It added that meetings between the Astana guarantor states will continue.
Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Önal represented Turkey during the meetings.
De Mistura will meet officials from Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the U.K., and the U.S.
(…)
2. Cavusoglu held a phone conversation with his French counterpart over a Syria summit to be held in Istanbul on Friday
Turkish daily Sabah (12.09.18) reports that the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held a phone conversation with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian over a Syria summit to be held in Istanbul on Friday.
The paper reports that high-level officials from Turkey, France, Germany and Russia are expected to arrive in Istanbul on Friday to hold a meeting ahead of a possible quartet summit and discuss a range of regional issues, particularly the Syrian crisis.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan previously announced on Sept. 9 that the representatives would meet and that a leaders' summit might be held soon. According to Foreign Ministry sources, political advisers from the four countries will be attending the meeting Friday, with presidential spokesman Kalın expected to represent Turkey in the meeting.
The current situation in Syria's Idlib will likely top the agenda of the summit
3. Turkey signs agriculture, oil exploration deals with Sudan
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (11.09.18-http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-signs-agriculture-oil-exploration-deals-with-sudan-136715) reported that Turkey and Sudan have signed a $100 million oil exploration deal and an agreement allocating thousands of square miles of Sudanese agricultural land for investment by Turkish companies, Turkey’s Agriculture and Forestry Ministry said on Sept. 11.
The two countries have strengthened ties and agreed in December, when President Erdogan made the first visit to Khartoum by a Turkish President, to gradually increase trade to $10 billion a year.
The Turkish Ministry said that Sudan had designated 780,500 hectares (3,000 square miles) of land for investment by private Turkish companies, saying it would “provide security of food supply for Turkey, Sudan and third countries”.
The Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and Sudan’s Ministry of Petroleum and Gas also signed an oil field development agreement, which would initially lead to an investment of up to $100 million, Turkey’s Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said in a statement.
The Ministry gave no details about the nature or location of the investment, but Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Pakdemirli as saying it was an exploration agreement.
Turkey’s Ziraat Participation Bank will also open a branch in Khartoum to strengthen financial ties, and customs procedures for machines and equipment imported from Turkey to Sudan will be facilitated, the Ministry said.
A year ago, the United States lifted a trade embargo and other penalties that had cut Sudan off from much of the global financial system, but Khartoum’s economy is in crisis, battered by shortages of hard currency and basic food.
A decision to reduce bread subsidies, leading to a doubling in prices, led to rare nationwide protests earlier this year.
On Sept. 9, President Omar al-Bashir dissolved the government and promised a leaner administration to address the crisis.
Turkey, which has strained ties with regional powers Egypt and Saudi Arabia, has boosted investments in Sudan recently.
It plans to rebuild a ruined Ottoman port city on Sudan’s Red Sea coast and construct a naval dock to maintain civilian and military vessels under an agreement reached between the two sides during Erdogan’s visit to Khartoum.
The other agreements signed during Erdoğan’s visit included Turkish investment to build Khartoum’s planned new airport and private sector investments in cotton production, electricity generation and building grain silos and meat slaughterhouses.
4. Turkey deploys observers to giant Russian-Chinese military exercise Vostok
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (12.09.18-http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-deploys-observers-to-giant-russian-chinese-military-exercise-136729) reports that Turkey has decided to deploy military observers to a Russian-Chinese massive military exercise taking place in Siberia following Moscow’s official invitation as a full and active participant.
Russia on Sept. 11 launched the “Vostok-2018” (East-2018), its largest military drill, with hundreds of thousands of Russian troops taking part along with Chinese soldiers in a massive show of force that has rattled the West. The exercise that will observe the participation of around 300,000 troops with dozens of aerial and naval vessels will continue until Sept. 18.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had informed the media last week about an official invitation by the Russian military authorities to the Turkish military’s participation to the drill. The invitation was extended to Turkey during the Tehran Summit on Syria with the participation of the leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran last week.
Echoing Erdoğan, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar had also stressed the importance of the drill and said they were evaluating Russia’s proposal.
According to information obtained from reliable sources, as a result of evaluations, Turkey decided to deploy military observers to the exercise instead of active participation. A reason is NATO found the drill a threatening move and against the allied security considerations, prompting Turkey to send senior military personnel from Turkey’s military attaché of its Embassy in Moscow.
5. Turkey’s MIT nabs terror suspect in Syria’s Latakia with 'pinpoint operation'
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (12.09.1http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-intelligence-nabs-terror-suspect-in-syrias-latakia-136747) reported that Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has brought a terror suspect from Syria’s regime-held Latakia province to Turkey, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Sept. 12.
Yusuf Nazik, 34, was sought by Turkish authorities as one of the main suspects of the 2013 bombing in the southern Turkish border town of Reyhanlı, which killed 53 people.
He was nabbed in a “pinpoint operation” by MİT, the agency said, adding that he was brought to Turkey “from secure roads.”
Nazik, born in the southern province of Hatay’s Antakya district, confessed that he played a key part in the 2013 bombing as a coordinator between the bombers and the Syrian regime, which he said masterminded the attack. He pointed to a Syrian intelligence officer named Mohammed and codenamed “Hadji.”
Turkish courts had ruled to jail nine arrested suspects for life in February, while eight more suspects, including Nazik, remained as fugitives.
In his interrogation, Nazik told Turkish security forces that on a tip off from Syrian intelligence units, he scouted the crime scene prior to the attack and moved explosives from Syria to Turkey. He added that he procured two vehicles for the operation.
Marked in the blue category of the Interior Ministry's wanted terrorists list, Nazik called on his friends in Syria to surrender. “I am also addressing the Syrian state: The state of Turkey is big and it will surely bring you to account,” he added in the video released by Turkish authorities on Sept. 12.
A senior Turkish official said that they took the information provided by Nazik about the involvement of Syrian intelligence operatives in the 2013 Reyhanlı attack “very seriously.” “His testimony corroborates long-standing rumors about the Assad regime’s active role in the bombing, which killed 53 innocent people. Nazik’s capture and repatriation should serve as a reminder to all other criminals that we will never stop hunting them. We will spare no effort to find you, catch you, and bring you to justice,” the official said.
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