Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review-03.09.19
No. 165/19 03.09.2019
Content
A. Turkish Cypriot Press
1. “Hope for agreement on the terms of reference”
2. Erdogan: “We will continue our explorations in the Eastern Mediterranean”
4. Korkmazhan: “Varosha is used as a threat against the Greek Cypriots”
6. Akar: We will not allow any fait accompli
B. Turkish Press
1. Celik: “statements of neighborhood solidarity by the EU towards the Greek Cypriots”
2. Erdogan: There is an obviously discriminatory attitude towards Turkey from EU
3. Turkish vice president holds talks with US counterpart Pence
4. Turkey’s ruling AK Party to discharge former PM Davutoğlu, associated figures
A. Turkish Cypriot Press
1. “Hope for agreement on the terms of reference”
Under the above title, Turkish Cypriot newspaper Halkın Sesi(03.09.19) reports that UNSG’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Jane Holl Lute, “who does not want to leave the island without leading the sides to an agreement on the terms of reference”, will hold a third meeting today with President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci.
In a written statement yesterday after the second meeting between Lute and Akinci, Baris Burcu, Akinci’s spokesman, said that the UN envoy continued her efforts to complete the terms of reference and within this framework she would meet with Akinci again today.
(I/Ts.)
2. Erdogan: “We will continue our explorations in the Eastern Mediterranean”
Illegal Bayrak (02.09.19 https://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=erdogan-speaks-on-eastern-med) broadcast that “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave clear messages on the Eastern Mediterranean and reiterated that Turkey will continue its explorations in the Eastern Mediterranean”.
“The events in the Eastern Mediterranean are a matter of survival for our country. Turkey does not have the luxury to sit and watch these events” Turkish President Erdoğan said and added “the west told us to pull back our vessels in the Eastern Mediterranean. We sent our frigates there and we will continue our explorations in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
“The west is threatening us. They told us to pull back our vessels but we sent our unarmed and unmanned aerial vehicles there. We will continue our explorations. Cyprus has rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. We also have rights. Turkey is a guarantor power and has the right to be there just like the EU, Britain and Greece. No one has the right to ask us why we are there. The problem of each citizen is our problem” Erdoğan alleged.
3. Erhurman: “Greek Cypriots try to hold Turkish Cypriots out of the equation of the Eastern Mediterranean”
Illegal Bayrak (02.09.19 https://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=ctp-leader-speaks-to-aa) broadcast that the leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party Tufan Erhürman made evaluations regarding the Cyprus negotiations process and the hydrocarbon resources in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Erhürman alleged that the Greek Cypriot side is not only trying to hold the “TRNC” out of the equation of the Eastern Mediterranean but Turkey as well.
He said that the “TRNC and Turkey had continued to work towards establishing a federation at Crans-Montana after the Annan Plan had failed and had shown this to the international community. Mr. Erhürman warned that if the Greek Cypriot side’s stance on political equality continues as is, then the possible tripartite or 5 party meeting in September in New York will be harmed”.
Noting that the messages given by the breakaway regime and Turkey on the hydrocarbon issue needed to be perceived by the Greek Cypriot side, Erhürman accused the Greek Cypriot side of trying to keep both the “TRNC” and Turkey out of the hydrocarbon equation.
“The Republic of Turkey is an important country in the Eastern Mediterranean” said Erhürman.
4. Korkmazhan: “Varosha is used as a threat against the Greek Cypriots”
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (03.09.10) reports that in a written statement on behalf of the Left Movement, Abdullah Korkmazhan, said the so-called government in the occupied area of Cyprus follows a policy of “threats, blackmail and provocation” against the Greek Cypriot community, by utilizing the issue of the fenced-off city of Varosha in order to impose its demands on the Cyprus problem and the hydrocarbon issue.
Korkmazhan went on to say that the so-called government follows a separatist policy on the Cyprus problem and the issue of the natural gas and added that it wishes to ignore the UN parameters on the Cyprus problem. “In order to impose its demands, it follows a threatening, blackmailing and provocative policy against the Greek Cypriot community via Maras”, [Translator’s note: fenced off city of Varosha] Korkmazhan said.
“Following this policy consciously, the government exerts efforts to deal a blow to the efforts for new Confidence Building Measures, to a possible new negotiation process and to the bi-communal ties”, Korkmahan further said. He expressed further the view that the decision taken by the so-called government on the issue of the opening of the fenced-off city of Varosha is a thought that cannot be realized. He said further that the opening of Maras for residence rather than its legal owners is unacceptable.
Korkmazhan accused also so-called deputy prime minister and “foreign minister” Kudret Ozersay of utilizing the issue of Varosha as “pre-election material”.
(AK)
5. Columnist correlates occupation regime’s move in fenced-off Varosha with developments in the Eastern Mediterranean
Writing in Turkish Cypriot newspaper Halkın Sesi(03.09.19), columnist Hasan Kahvecioglu reports that the move of the occupation regime in the occupied fenced-off city of Varosha should be correlated with the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. Under the title “The ‘Trustee’ of Varosha”, Kahvecioglu writes, inter alia, the following:
“[…] The fact that the Turkish General Staff gave permission for limited access into a part of the military area of Varosha for ‘inventory’ purposes is an important decision of course. This ‘decision’ is not a ‘decision’ taken because this is what the minor partner of the government in Nicosia wanted so.
If the Turkish General Staff half-opened the wires of the ‘military area’, took some persons ‘inside’ and even put a local politician to the position of a ‘tourist guide responsible for Varosha’ like a ‘Trustee’, it definitely knows something.
The ‘operation’ […] should be correlated with the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey wanted to use Varosha as a ‘trump card’ against the ‘active’ moves of the Greek Cypriot side in the Eastern Mediterranean and started searching for a ‘Trustee’ here. The political stance of a local politician with big dreams organized with ‘valor’ and ‘aggression’ seems to be appropriate for this job. […]
However, it is a strategic step to ‘threaten’ the Greek Cypriot side, scare it a little and Varosha is an instrument of this. […]”
(I/Ts.)
6. Akar: We will not allow any fait accompli
Turkish Cypriot illegal Bayrak(03.09.19, https://www.brtk.net/akar-herhangi-bir-oldu-bittiye-izin-vermeyecegiz/) broadcast that Turkish Minister of Defense, Hulusi Akar has reiterated that Turkey would not allow any fait accompli and violation of what he called “the rights of Turkey and the TRNC”.
Addressing a ceremony in Turkey, Akar referred to the Aegean, the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus and alleged that Turkey was in favor of international law, bilateral agreements and amicable solution of problems. Arguing that this should not be perceived as a concession or weakness, Akar claimed that they were fully prepared to protect their “rights” and added:
“[…] And this is not a threat. We only want the continuation of good neighborly relations in a rational manner and expect the appropriate response to this by the other side. Our Fatih and Yavuz drilling vessels and Hayrettin Pasa and Oruc Reis seismic exploration vessels are fully executing their duty there. They are executing whatever is necessary for the rights and justice of both our country and our Cypriot brothers. We have provided and we will continue to provide the necessary support until the end with mainly our Naval Forces and with our Air Forces. We will materialize whatever is necessary for our rights there. We will never allow any fait accompli”.
(I/Ts.)
7. Proposals from the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce for facilitating crossings from and to the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli (03.09.19) reports that the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce has submitted to the so-called government proposals that would ease, facilitate and speed up the procedures of crossing to and from the occupied area of Cyprus. The proposals include specific suggestions regarding the problems experienced especially at the Agios Dometios/Metehan vehicle crossing point.
Issuing a written statement, the Chamber proposes the increase of the number of control-cabins and the increase of the staff working there, supporting that the uneasiness experienced daily on the crossing points would be facilitated.
In the statement, the Chamber underlines further the need to increase the number of crossing points, pointing out to the increase on the number of people, crossing from and to the occupied areas of Cyprus, and especially to the increase of the Greek Cypriots who cross over to the “TRNC” during the previous years. The Chamber proposes further the opening of Ledras Palace crossing point either for all vehicles or for vehicles with T-license, supporting that this could constitute an alternative solution for the vehicles in the west part of Lefkosia.
The Chamber announced further that according to a report prepared, in 2017, 2, 592, 114 crossings took place from and to the occupied area of Cyprus (excluding the Turkish Cypriots), while in 2018 the number of crossings reached 3,5 million and in the first six months of 2019, 2 million.
The Chamber said also that the expenses of the Greek Cypriots in the occupied area of Cyprus paying with credit cards were also increased. This is related according to the Chamber with the remarkable depreciation of the price of the Turkish Lira, after losing 30% of its value.
(AK)
8. Employees in the field of religion ask Turkey for help to promote Islam in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot newspaper Halkın Sesi(03.09.19) reports that Suleyman Cakir, chairman of the trade union of the employees in the field of religion (Din-Gor-Sen), has claimed that religion faced big problems in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. In statements to Turkish yeniakit.com.tr news website, Cakir argued that more than 300 missioners were secretly active in houses used as churches in the occupied area of the island and added: “All kinds of projects are materialized here in order for not growing up a Moslem and a religious generation. Unfortunately, a generation which does not know its religion is growing up in the TRNC”.
Alleging that religious services and meetings were held in the above-mentioned places trying to “gain the youth”, Cakir claimed that efforts were exerted for the Moslem identity to be annihilated in the occupied northern part of Cyprus. He argued that seven persons were employed in these churches and 100 dollars were paid monthly to each person by the “World Union of Churches”.
Cakir claimed that nothing was done in the occupied area of the island against the efforts to annihilate Islam and added that they were expecting aid from Turkey. He said that 5,350 teachers were employed in primary schools, secondary schools and lyceums in the occupied area of Cyprus and that only four of these teachers were religion teachers. “We are asking from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and all the other officials to help in the solution of this problem experienced in the TRNC”, he said.
(I/Ts.)
B. Turkish Press
1. Celik: “statements of neighborhood solidarity by the EU towards the Greek Cypriots”
Turkish CNN Turk channel (03.09.19 https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/omer-celik-aciklamalarda-bulunuyor reports that the spokesman of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Omer Celik referring to the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean reminding the statements of the of the French President Emmanuel Macron that they (the EU) are behind the Greek Cypriots and Greece, Çelik claimed that this statement is only “a statement of neighborhood solidarity”.
Celik made these statements while a meeting of the central committee of AKP was still in progress yesterday.
He said that “the authorities of the TRNC” proposed to establish a joint committee on 13 July and that this proposal was rejected by the Greek Cypriots and claimed that the Greek Cypriot side “did not hesitate to take steps that would harm the rights and interests of the TRNC while making statements about the obsolescence of the guarantor ship in Cyprus”.
"If what they really think about is the use of the resources out there for the whole island, if they have an evaluation perspective for the whole island, the first thing they should do here is to have a positive approach to the joint committee decision expressed by the authorities of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," he said.
2. Erdogan: There is an obviously discriminatory attitude towards Turkey from EU
Ankara Anatolia news agency (03.09.19 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/turkey-builds-its-democracy-on-separation-of-powers/1570967) reports that Turkey has always abided by "the principle of separation of powers" on which it has built its democracy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated, at the judicial year opening day ceremony at the Bestepe National Congress and Culture Center in the capital Ankara.
Addressing the Judicial Reform Strategy Document, Erdogan said Turkey also showed a commitment to its obligations for the full European Union membership with this document while the EU bodies “are in an obviously discriminatory attitude towards Turkey.” Turkish president also vowed to implement a judicial reform in a short time by simplifying judicial processes and developing alternative solutions for disputes.
3. Turkish vice president holds talks with US counterpart Pence
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (03.09.19 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-vice-president-holds-talks-with-us-counterpart-pence-146220) reports that Turkey's Vice President Fuat Oktay on Sept. 1 attended a ceremony, to mark the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, in the Polish capital Warsaw and held talks with his U.S. counterpart Mike Pence.
Oktay and Pence exchanged ideas to improve bilateral relations and also discussed regional issues. Turkish vice president also met Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova, Slovenian President Borut Pahor and Austrian Parliament Speaker Wolfgang Sobotka.
4. Turkey’s ruling AK Party to discharge former PM Davutoğlu, associated figures
Turkish daily Sabah (03.09.19 https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2019/09/02/turkeys-ruling-ak-party-to-discharge-former-pm-davutoglu-associated-figures) reports that Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party)'s central committee referred on Monday former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, former AK Party lawmakers Ayhan Sefer Üstün, Selçuk Özdağ and Abdullah Başçı to the disciplinary committee to be discharged from the party.
Davutoğlu, who resigned from party leadership in May 2016 after a growing rift with the party organization, issued an open criticism in the wake of the March 31 local elections. The other three former lawmakers are allegedly in close contact with the former premier, who is also rumored to have been preparing to launch a splinter movement.
Attempts to form a new political party would do nothing except help the AK Party consolidate its voter base and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gain more political strength, early analyses suggested. Another splinter faction seems to be led by former Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan. Babacan was in charge of the economy and was also one of the founders of the AK Party. He made his intention to form a new political party more explicit following the March 31 local elections. In his letter resigning from the AK Party published Monday, Babacan said there had been serious divergences between the principles he believes in and the AK Party's policies in recent years, adding that the country has "a new, dynamic generation that has different expectations."
"In the current conditions we are going through, Turkey needs a new vision for the future. Our country needs the right analyses, strategies and plans in every field," he said in the letter. He also stressed that new political formations that have emerged with the new executive presidential system should be carefully analyzed. The People's Alliance, formed by the AK Party and the MHP, gained 51.6 percent of the votes and won more than 700 municipalities in the March 31 local polls. However, the alliance lost in the three biggest cities – Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir – to its opponent, the Nation's Alliance, which was formed by the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the İP.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/EH)
PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE
