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Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review-30.05.19

 

No. 100/19                                                                                         

 

Contents

A. Turkish Cypriot Press

1. Turkey does not accept the criticism in EU Commission’s report, argues Kaymakci

2. Cavusoglu alleges that the Turkish Cypriots are still exposed to inhumane embargoes

3. Ulucay to attend an OIC summit in Mecca

4. Ozgurgun will not give a “vote of confidence” to Tatat’s government”

5. Tatar responds to Erhurman’s accusations over the formation of the “UBP-HP coalition government”

6. An Azeri Deputy is paying an illegal visit to the breakaway regime

B. Turkish Press

1. Erdogan and Trump agree to meet at G20 summit in Japan

2. Cavusoglu: “There can be no peace deal without a free Palestinian state”

3. Turkey jails yet another journalist over Gülen links

 

A. Turkish Cypriot Press

1. Turkey does not accept the criticism in EU Commission’s report, argues Kaymakci

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Havadis(30.05.19) reports that Faruk Kaymakci, Turkish Deputy Foreign Affairs’ Minister, has said that his country could not accept what he called “unfair and disproportionate” criticisms, which are included in EU Commission’s 2019 Report for Turkey, adding, however, that they would take into consideration the “consistent and reasonable” criticism as “constructive element”, which would contribute to their reforms.

In statements yesterday, Kaymakci argued that the above-mentioned report reflected EU’s “existential crises” and that, as it was seen in the European Parliament (EP) elections, populist movements were rewarded in the European public opinion. He also described as “null and void” the reference that his country moved away from its full accession to the EU, claiming that “Turkey is part of Europe”, “Turkey is Europe” and should become a full member when it fulfills the conditions for accession.

Kaymakci argued that it was not possible for Turkey to accept “allegations” which defended the Republic of Cyprus’ and Greece’s positions. “The EU has no right or competence to determine any border of any of its members with third countries. No country’s borders could be determined by the EU, because the Greek Cypriot administration [Translator’s note: This is how he calls the Republic of Cyrus] or Greece asked for it”, he alleged and claimed that Turkey acts according to the international law in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean. 

Reiterating the Turkish view that the EU had committed a “big mistake” by accepting Cyprus as its member before the solution of the Cyprus problem, Kaymakci alleged that if the EU wanted to act “constructively” on this issue, it should make some “suggestions” to its member.  “Turkey’s activities regarding the hydrocarbon resources in the Eastern Mediterranean are based on its legitimate rights deriving from the international law”, he claimed and reiterated the allegation that as the country with the longest coastline in the area Turkey would protect both its own rights and interests in its continental shelf and what he called the “fundamental rights of the TRNC around Cyprus”.

“Until today our country has not hesitated to take every step needed within this framework and will not hesitate to do so in the future. Turkey supports a permanent solution on the basis of the political equality of the two peoples and bi-zonality on the island”, he alleged and claimed that what he called unilateral approach in the report which was based on the Greek Cypriot positions did not contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem and would put in danger the stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. “The EU, by accepting a bilateral problem in the Union, has committed an important mistake. This mistake caused other problems”, he argued.

(I/Ts.)   

2. Cavusoglu alleges that the Turkish Cypriots are still exposed to inhumane embargoes

According to illegal Bayrak television (30.05.19, http://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=cyprus-issue-at-oic-meeting), the Foreign Ministers meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) started in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah yesterday.

During the summit, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, addressing the OIC member countries, referred also to the situation in Cyprus and claimed: “The Turkish Cypriots who are represented within the OIC with a non-member observer status are still exposed to inhumane embargoes and pressures. The Turkish Muslim minorities residing in western Thrace and Greece as revealed in bilateral and multilateral reports can still not exercise their rights and freedoms. Muslim communities residing in the Eastern Europe, North America and in other countries other than the OIC countries face serious violations and new difficulties”.

3. Ulucay to attend an OIC summit in Mecca

According to illegal Bayrak television (30.05.19, http://www.brtk.net/ulucay-iit-zirve-toplantisina-katiliyor/), the self-styled assembly speaker of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus Teberrüken Uluçay is attending a summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Uluçay and his accompanying delegation will be departing from the “TRNC” this afternoon to attend the 14th regular session of the “Hand in Hand toward the Future” Islamic Summit, which will be held under the chairmanship of the King of Saudi Arabia Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Uluçay will be accompanied by his “private secretary” Çağlar Gulamkadir, the “director of protocol and foreign relations for the parliament” Yasa Yeşilada, and the “director for the oic desk at the ministry of foreign affairs” Seniha Birand.

The delegation will be returning to the occupied area of Cyprus on Saturday, June 1.

4. Ozgurgun will not give a “vote of confidence” to Tatat’s government”

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (30.05.19) reports that while just only a few days remain before the “vote of confidence” in the so-called parliament, for the newly establishment “government” between the National Unity Party (UBP) and the People’s Party (HP)  the former chairman of UBP, Huseyin Ozgurgun stated that he will not participate in the voting because as he said “his conscience does not allow him to vote for Kudret Ozersay”.  The latter is the leader of HP.

The paper notes that the “vote of confidence” may take place tomorrow in case today the discussion about the new “government’s” program is completed. However, the paper notes, another UBP “deputy” Sunat Atun will be abroad and will not be able to participate in the voting as well. Therefore only 19 out of the 21 “deputies” of UBP will be present in the voting. The paper also writes that Resmiye Canaltay, the daughter of the former Turkish Cypriot leader and former leader of UBP Dervis Eroglu, said that she will support the party, despite the fact that she was not given a “ministry”, in an UBP “government” established in the past.

(CS)

5. Tatar responds to Erhurman’s accusations over the formation of the “UBP-HP coalition government”

Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (30.05.19) reports that so-called prime minister Ersin Tatar, in a written statement yesterday, replying to the statements made by the former “prime minister” Tufan Erhurman that the “UBP-HP government was formed under the pressure of Turkey”, claimed that the “government” was established with the support and the will of the Turkish Cypriot “people”.

Tatar accused Erhurman of distorting the statement he has made with the reference that “with the formation of the coalition government between the National Unity Party and the People’s Party, the government established is the one that Turkey wanted”. “I have replied to these allegations before and I will do it again in order to stop exploiting it”, Tatar said, alleging also the following: “[…] Whatever Turkey wanted before the formation of the four-party coalition government, is the same that it wanted before the formation of the coalition government between the UBP-HP. Turkey wants the economic development of the TRNC. Turkey’s goal is to increase the per capital income of the TRNC to 2 thousand dollars. It is for this reason that it signs financial and economic protocols with the TRNC’s governments and demands for the protocols to be implemented.  In order for this to happen, harmony is necessary between the two governments. What happens when harmony does not exist, was obvious during the collapse of the coalition government between the CTP and the UBP due to the problems existed regarding the transfer of water from Turkey to the TRNC”. […].

(AK)

6. An Azeri Deputy is paying an illegal visit to the breakaway regime

Illegal Bayrak (30.05.19 http://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=tatars-first-guest-is-azeri-mp) reports that “prime minister” Ersin Tatar met with Azerbaijani MP Nagif Hamzayev who is illegally visiting the “TRNC”.

Tatar said during the meeting that since he has taken on “the duty of prime minister”, this is his first “foreign guest”.

“We love Azerbaijan. We feel close to it. We are one nation but three states. We give great importance to the development of our relations and cultural ties with Azerbaijan. I also congratulate Azerbaijan’s 101 year anniversary” said Tatar.

Expressing the belief that the Republic of Turkey, the “TRNC”  together with Azerbaijan will fight together and obtain a brighter future, Tatar said: “if we are in solidarity and united this will make us more powerful”. He said that during the new “term relation”s between the breakaway regime, “motherland” Turkey and Azerbaijan will be carried to a better position and become further solidified.

In addition, Bayrak (30.05.19, http://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=hamzayev-visits-tore ) also broadcast that Hamzayev and his accompanying delegation  paid a visit to the “deputy speaker of parliament” Zorlu Töre yesterday.

Speaking during the visit, Töre said that Azerbaijan was a Turkish republic and part of the Turkish nation.

Hamzayev expressed during the meeting the need for student and lecturer exchange programme between the “TRNC” and Azerbaijan.

He said that bilateral relations could be effective in solving these problems.

He also expressed the hope that “Azerbaijan will open the second embassy in the TRNC”.

B. Turkish Press

1. Erdogan and Trump agree to meet at G20 summit in Japan

According to Turkey’s state news agency Ankara Anatolia (29.05.19, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/erdogan-reiterates-bid-for-working-group-on-russian-s-400/1492468), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a phone conversation Wednesday with U.S. President Donald Trump in which he reiterated Ankara’s proposal to form a working group to discuss Turkey’s pending procurement of Russia’s S-400 missile defence system.

Turkish presidential communications director Fahrettin Altun said on Twitter that Erdogan and Trump also discussed bilateral and regional issues. (…)

Separately addressing the U.S. move to lower tariffs on Turkish steel, Erdogan told Trump that his decision will contribute to realizing the $75 billion bilateral trade volume target. Two weeks earlier, Trump lowered tariffs on Turkish steel imports from 50% to 25%.

The two leaders also agreed to meet at the G20 summit scheduled to be held June 28-29 in Osaka, Japan, Altun added.

The White House separately said the Presidents discussed a number of bilateral issues during their phone call, including the "shared desire to increase trade", Turkey's plans to buy the S-400 missile system and Trump's decision to reduce steel tariffs.

2. Cavusoglu: “There can be no peace deal without a free Palestinian state”

According to Turkish daily Yeni Safak (30.05.19, https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/there-can-be-no-peace-deal-without-free-palestine-state-turkey-3482229), Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, addressing the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Jeddah province, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday said that any peace deal which does not envisage the creation of an independent Palestinian state is bound to be rejected and added: “It is more important than ever to unite forces and efforts of OIC countries for the establishment of an independent, sovereign and contiguous Palestine. This is a responsibility that falls first and foremost on our shoulders.”

He stressed that all member nations need to renew their commitment to the preservation of the status of Jerusalem and emphasized it will remain a red line.

"I am therefore confident that any peace deal which does not envisage the creation of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital is bound to be rejected by the OIC community," Cavusoglu said.

On Syria, he said Turkey assumes a leading role in international efforts to reach a sustainable political solution. "Our work within the Astana platform continues to de-escalate tension on the ground and facilitates the political process.  (…)

Turning to Libya, Cavusoglu emphasized there is no alternative to a political solution to the war-ravaged nation. (…)

On Kashmir, Cavusoglu said the conflict should be resolved through dialogue between India and Pakistan. (…)

Cavusoglu also claimed that Turkey worked hard to tackle other major challenges that Muslims are facing around the world during its chairmanship of the OIC. "However, we are still at a beginning stage of a long fight against Islamophobia and the toxic ideologies behind it," he added.

Following the meeting, Turkey handed over the OIC Summit Chairmanship to Saudi Arabia.

3. Turkey jails yet another journalist over Gülen links

According to Turkish daily Yeni Safak (29.05.19, https://www.turkishminute.com/2019/05/29/turkey-jails-yet-another-journalist-over-gulen-links/), journalist İbrahim Varlık, who used to work for the now-closed Cihan news agency, has been arrested, according to journalist Ahmet Dönmez.

Dönmez, formerly with the now-closed Zaman daily and currently living in exile, announced the news of Varlık’s arrest from his Twitter account on Tuesday. (…)

Zaman and the Cihan news agency were among the dozens of media outlets that were closed down by the Turkish government in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016 due to their alleged links to the Gülen movement. (…)

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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(DPs/AM)