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Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review-07.11.18

 No. 215/18                                                                                                         07.11.18

 

Α. Turkish Cypriot Press

1. Ozersay: “Anastasiades does not want  to change the current status quo “

2. Tatar criticizes President Anastasiades

3. The Cyprus issue was discussed at the “assembly”

4. Elcil condemns the occupation regime’s central bank

B. Turkish Press

1. Turkey's Defense Minister in Sudan for military talks

2. Turkish Deputy gets jail time for terrorist propaganda

3. Turkey welcomes US putting bounties on PKK terrorists

 

Α. Turkish Cypriot Press

1. Ozersay: “Anastasiades does not want  to change the current status quo “

Illegal Bayrak (07.11.18 http://www.brtk.net/anastasiades-mevcut-statukonun-degismesini-istemiyor/) broadcast that in a post in one of his social media accounts, the “deputy prime minister and foreign minister” Kudret Ozersay commented on  last night’s interview of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades.

Ozersay claimed that with his last night’s statements Anastasiades exhibited what he is trying to do. Accordıng to Ozersay, Anastasiades said “let’s talk about federation  but let's not share the management and the richness of the federation and let us achieve this by ambulating the political equality of the Turkish Cypriots through discussions of decentralization”.

Ozersay went on and said that with these statements, Anastasiades sent the message to the Greek Cypriots that he is dismissing the demands of the Turkish Cypriots on security and guarantees, making those demands unnecessary.

“However, the federation is a partnership model based on the logic of sharing both management and wealth. If you say that you should produce formulas to avoid sharing both the federation and the management, which is the sine qua non of the federation, the place you will arrive will not be any different than the place reached in the 50-year Cyprus negotiations.  In epitome, what Anastasides said was: Let’s give some powers to the founding states but in return the Turkish Cypriots would have to settle for less participation in federal decision-making. Using another expression for the message he gave us: “Let’s give more power to the founding states but in return compromise your political equality”.  If you see the Federal partnership as something that belongs to the Greek Cypriots and not as a partnership to be managed together, with such statements,  then it has the same meaning as saying “you stay attached to constituent state level and do not interfere with the federal government administration and this is extremely annoying””, Ozersay stated.

Ozersay went on and said that if the Turkish vote is  needed only in some vital issues in the federal executive, but in other federal issues, decisions can be taken without  the Turkish Cypriots giving a positive vote, then  it is a matter of concern that can eliminate political equality in reality.

Ozersay said that for him the meaning of all these is not about any formula but Anastasiades “and the administration of the Greek Cypriot leadership” not wanting to share the political power with the Turkish Cypriots . “The idea of sharing is frightening themselves”, he said.

He went on and said that according to the last report of the UN Secretary General, the negotiations could begin if the two sides in Cyprus have a common vision about the future of the island. “When I look at the recent statements of Mr. Anastasiades, I think that the existence of the common vision becomes seriously questionable”, he said.

 “One of the basic parameters of federation is the power sharing and this common vision is missing”, Ozersay said and added that it shows why they make the call for change of mentality”.

“If you don't want to share the wealth in the sea, if you find it difficult to share the powers that we will use in common, and therefore are looking for the formulas for getting up and watering our political equality, then why do you insist on the federal solution of sharing management and wealth? This question comes in mind. Go and openly say: “We are having trouble sharing, we understand something else when we talk about political equality, we cannot accept an equality in the sense that you understand, because we do not want to share the administration with you “, he said and added:

“If Mr. Anastasiades wanted to change the current status quo, I think he would have come out and told these. That is if of course if he wanted a change”.

(CS)

2. Tatar criticizes President Anastasiades

According to illegal Bayrak television (07.11.18, http://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=ubp-slams-anastasiades), the new leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) Ersin Tatar has criticized the latest statements made by the Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, who addressed yesterday the Greek Cypriots in order to inform them regarding his views on the Cyprus problem.

Tatar argued that the Greek Cypriot leader claimed that he wanted a loose federation but in reality he wanted the cancellation of Turkey’s guarantees over the island. He drew attention to the fact that “the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades’ aim was to prevent the Turkish Cypriot peoples’ active contribution to the country and usurp their rights over the hydrocarbons on the island”.

“The Greek Cypriot side’s stance will never be accepted. The Turkish Cypriot people, by claiming their state, must search for new ways to become a part of the international arena”, Tatar argued.

 

3. The Cyprus issue was discussed at the “assembly”

According to Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (07.11.18), the Cyprus issue, the cybercrimes and the problems of the CAS employees were the issues discussed yesterday in the “assembly” of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus.

Asim Akansoy, “deputy” with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), speaking on the Cyprus issue in the context of the recent political developments, argued that the natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean is estimated to be 9 thousand 350 billion cubic metres, adding that the potential is seen to be great when you look at the EU’s annual gas needs.

Noting that the issue was discussed at The Economist summit last week in “south Cyprus” (the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus), Akansoy claimed that the “Greek Cypriot administration” (as he refers to the Cyprus government) made a serious mistake by moving forward the natural gas issue instead of the negotiation process.

Referring to the visit of the UN Secretary General’s special adviser on Cyprus to Cyprus, Akansoy underlined the interest of the international community in the Cyprus issue.  He further said that it is necessary to take into consideration the process that has started in order to reach a just and permanent solution, adding that the stage that the natural gas issue has reached could turn into a serious crisis and this should not be ignored.

Referring to the new initiative for resumption of the Cyprus talks, Oguzhan Hasipoglu, “deputy” with the National Unity Party (UBP) said that it has been understood that there is a new process on the Cyprus issue and that it has been seen from the contacts and the statements that were made. He also said that the concept of the loose federation has been raised by the Greek Cypriot side.

Noting that the concept “let us defer competencies from the federal government to the founding/constituent states” was raised by Anastasiades and the ground for discussion was created, Hasipoglu added that Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci’s views on this issue are unknown and that the agenda is determined by the Greek Cypriot side.

Hasipoglu criticized Akinci that he did not receive the opinion of the “parliament” on this issue, adding that the contribution and opinion of the “assembly” should be taken.

Noting that they, as UBP, will not approve Turkey’s interference rights to be lifted, Hasipoglu said that this issue is a UN parameter. Hasipoglu also claimed that the time limit and what will happen at the end of the process should be determined before sitting at the negotiating table. 

(DPs)

4. Elcil condemns the occupation regime’s central banka

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (07.11.18) reports that the Turkish Cypriot teacher’s trade union (“KTOS”) in a written statement condemned the occupation regime’s central bank claiming that the “central bank” is hiding the real figures concerning its deposit accounts, adding at the same time that the majority of the “bank’s deposit accounts” are from foreign countries.

In a written statement on behalf of the union, the general secretary Sener Elcil underlined the fact that the Turkish Cypriot community experience a very difficult period due to the collapse of Turkey’s economy because of the remarkable decrease of the value of the TL against foreign currencies. Elcil pointed out that the wages regress in the “TRNC” has reached to 63%.

Stating that although the Central Bank in Turkey has took steps towards the interest rates, the “TRNC’s central bank” follows a policy which aims only the interest.

Elcil further condemned the “director” of the “central bank” for acting with the aim to protect the rights not of the Turkish Cypriots but the rights of Turkey. He further called on the “four-party coalition government” to clarify the amount of the bank deposits.

(AK)

 

B. Turkish Press

1. Turkey's Defense Minister in Sudan for military talks

Ankara Anatolia news agency (07.11.18 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/turkeys-defense-minister-in-sudan-for-military-talks/1304314) reports that  Turkey’s Defense Minister on Tuesday met with Sudanese officials in the capital Khartoum for bilateral and military talks.

Hulusi Akar was welcomed by his Sudanese counterpart Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf with a military ceremony in the city.

Akar later held talks with Auf and Gen. Kamal Abdel Marouf al-Mahi, Chief of General Staff, and chaired an inter-delegation meeting.  He was then hosted by President Omar al-Bashir at the presidential palace in the capital.

Topics such as bilateral defense, military cooperation and regional issues, as well as ongoing works on the Suakin Island were discussed, according to defense sources.

Turkey has been restoring the ruined Ottoman island on Sudan’s Red Sea coast after the restoration was agreed during a visit to the island by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Turkish President had visited the island on Dec. 25, 2017 as part of his two-day official visit in the northern African nation.

Turkey's plan to open military training centers in Sudan was also among the topics discussed in the meeting.

2. Turkish Deputy gets jail time for terrorist propaganda

Ankara Anatolia news agency (07.11.18 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/turkish-deputy-gets-jail-time-for-terrorist-propaganda/1304382) reports that an opposition Turkish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputy was sentenced on Tuesday to two-and-a-half years in prison for spreading PKK terrorist propaganda, judicial sources said.

 

A Turkish heavy penal court sentenced Mahmut Togrul -- Gaziantep Deputy of the party -- to prison for the offense, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The suspect was not in court but was represented by his lawyers.

The charges spring from Togrul chanting slogans of the PKK terrorist group in the southeastern province of Gaziantep and his speech to a crowd in February 2016.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, it has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children.

Turkey welcomes US putting bounties on PKK terrorists

US State Department says those who help identifying or locating Murat Karayilan, Cemil Bayik, Duran Kalkan to be rewarded.

 

3. Turkey welcomes US putting bounties on PKK terrorists

Ankara Anatolia news agency (07.11.18 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/turkey-welcomes-us-putting-bounties-on-pkk-terrorists/1304663) reports that the Turkish Foreign Ministry welcomed the U.S. State Department’s decision to put multi-million-dollar bounties on the heads of three senior PKK terrorists, according to a statement on Wednesday.

In a written statement, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy said: “We expect this step to be supported by concrete actions to be made in Iraq and Syria as part of fighting against PKK and its extensions.”

Under the Rewards for Justice Program, those who give information leading to the identification or location of Murat Karayilan, Cemil Bayik or Duran Kalkan are eligible for rewards of $3 million to $5 million.

The announcement followed U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer’s official visit to the capital, Ankara.

 

 

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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS/AM)