Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kıbrıs Postası (03.06.19, http://www.kibrispostasi.com/c35-KIBRIS_HABERLERI/n287178-tatar-erdoganla-ekonomik-sorunlarimiz-ve-hidrokarbon-yatakla)reports that Ersin Tatar, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has described “useful and positive” the meeting he had yesterday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul, noting that they had discussed the breakaway regime’s economic problems, the Cyprus problem and the hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean. Self-styled foreign and finance ministers Kudret Ozersay and Olgun Amcaoglu respectively participated in the meeting of the Turkish Cypriot side, while Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu were among the members of the Turkish delegation.

Speaking after the meeting, Tatar argued that their “common target” with Turkey was for the “TRNC” to become a “developed country” and for the Cyprus problem and hydrocarbon issues to “reach a result within the framework of justice”. “We do not set eye on anyone’s freedom, state and rights, but we will not allow anyone to ignore our state, freedom and rights, he alleged.

According to Turkish Cypriot newspaper Diyalog (04.06.19), four main chapters were discussed during the above-mentioned meeting:

1) The transfer of electricity from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus with undersea cables. The paper reports that Erdogan told the Turkish Cypriot delegation that Turkey was ready to undertake the political responsibility for this and gave instructions to experts for advancing the project.

2) The fares between Turkey and the occupied area of Cyprus. Tatar explained the importance of tourism for the breakaway regime and underlined the high cost of the fares, reports the paper, adding that Erdogan gave instructions for carrying out a study with the aim of decreasing the fares, something which satisfied the Turkish Cypriot delegation.

3) The economic “protocol” and the flow of money from Turkey to the occupied area. The Turkish Cypriot delegation suggested the signing of two separate “protocols” and they decided to sign one “protocol” for 2019 and another for the period 2020-2023.

4) The drillings for hydrocarbons. They discussed the steps to be taken by Turkey and the breakaway regime as a response to what they call “unilateral” drillings of the Republic of Cyprus and their future plans. They also reaffirmed their “common determination” on this issue and that they will continue taking similar steps to the ones to be taken by the Republic of Cyprus in case the latter “does not approach positively the sharing of these resources”.

(I/Ts.)

2. Flow of money from Turkey will start soon, says Ozersay

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kıbrıs (04.06.19,)reports that Kudret Ozersay, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that during their meeting in Turkey with a delegation under President Erdogan, they discussed some formulas for securing that the flow of money from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus will resume. In statements after the meeting, he noted that they had emphasized on the flow of resources which were included in the 2016-18 “protocol”, but could not be given for various reasons. He said that there was an issue of prolonging the “protocol” for overcoming the lack of “legal framework” or of preparing a temporary “agreement”. “We think that within the forthcoming period, the flow of resources will resume”, he added.

Referring to the hydrocarbons issue in the Eastern Mediterranean, Ozersay said that they discussed the military and political developments in the area and evaluated the steps, which they could commonly take. He noted that they also discussed steps regarding the way by which they could promote better the so-called legitimate rights and interests of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot “people” in the area. He further said that they had briefly evaluated the recent developments in the Cyprus problem and the report which will be soon prepared in New York by the United Nations.

(I/Ts.)

3. Ulucay asked of Cavusoglu the promotion of the breakaway regime during their meeting in Saudi Arabia

Illegal Bayrak (03.06.19, http://www.brtk.net/turkiye-disisleri-bakani-cavusoglu-ile-cok-verimli-ve-samimi-toplanti-gerceklestirdik/ ) broadcast that the speaker of the “assembly” Teberruken Ulucay, speaking to Bayrak stated that he went to Saudi Arabia to participate in the Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, upon an invitation from the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. “We gave the necessary messages needed to be given under the observer’s status”, he stated.

He said that they stressed the fact that the Turkish Cypriots are under isolation both economically and in the area of sports, that they want to take the position they deserve in the world like the Greek Cypriots and that they want to reach a solution as regards the Cyprus problem via negotiations. He also said that they noted to the Islamic countries to “must push the Greek Cypriots a bit” in order to help the Turkish Cypriots towards these issues.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Ulucay stated that he said to the persons he spoke to in the summit that the Turkish Cypriots will continue to fight over a bi-communal, bi-zonal solution on the political equality basis in a negotiation progress which will not have an open end. He also said that they brought up the issue of the natural gas, arguing that they do not want it to become an issue for conflict, adding that the gas could bring wealth not only to the two “peoples” of the island, but to the guarantor countries of Cyprus and the countries of the area around Cyprus as well.

Ulucay described the meeting he held on the side of the summit with the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, as fruitful and productive, noting that internal and external developments were evaluated.

“We had in the past some help from the Turkish Foreign Ministry on our strategic goals as an assembly and we shared with them our effort on the international scene. We face several problems on the framework of the embargo, especially regarding football […] we want to participate in international organizations abroad. […] there are some efforts exerted especially towards the Asian Football Federation. In the coming days there will be a visit from our foreign affairs director, a deputy and an official of the Turkish Cypriot football federation. We shared this framework with Cavusoglu”, he stated. He also said that they also informed Cavusoglu on the point that their efforts, as well as about other efforts they exerted towards PACE. “We set our future goals. Turkey always helps us towards these issues”, he stated.

(CS)

4. The consumer prices in the occupied area of Cyprus rose by 0.47% in May

Under the title “The monthly inflation in TRNC is half of what it is in Turkey”, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (04.06.19) reports that the “state planning organization” (“DPO”) announced that the cost of living / inflation has increased by 0.47% in May compared to the previous month in the occupied area of Cyprus. It has increased by 6.22% compared to December of the previous year and by 26.75% compared to the same month of the previous year.

Meanwhile, the paper reports that it was announced that Turkey saw an annual hike of 18.71% in consumer prices in May, and the consumer prices rose by 0.95% in May on a monthly basis.

(DPs)

B. Turkish Press

1. Erdoğan says no step back from Russian S-400 deal

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (04.05.19 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogan-says-no-step-back-from-russian-s-400-deal-143926) reports that Turkey will not take a step back from S-400 missile deal with Russia, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said.

"There is an agreement. We have determination. It is out of the question to take a step back from it [S-400 deal]," Erdoğan told reporters in Istanbul. Turkey decided in 2017 to purchase the S-400 system following protracted efforts to purchase air defense systems from the U.S. with no success. However, U.S. officials have advised Turkey to buy the Patriot missile system rather than the S-400 system from Moscow, arguing it is incompatible with NATO systems.

"We can take a step for Patriots, if there is a positive offer as Russia made," Erdoğan said, adding but so far there was no positive offer from the U.S. side. Erdoğan added win-win approach is in the self-interest of every country. "If it is not the case, we are not obliged to buy anything."

2. Thousands of Turkic migrants granted residence permits

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (04.05.19 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/thousands-of-turkic-migrants-granted-residence-permits-143924) reports that Turkey has granted 89,951 residence permits and 57,902 long-term residence permits to members of Turkic communities from Turkmenistan, Bulgaria, China, Greece, Iraq and Afghanistan, Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said at a fast-breaking dinner on June 2, referring to Uighurs from China, Iraqi Turkmens, Uzbeks, Turkmenistan nationals and minority Turks of Greece.

“Our approach in granting citizenship is the same. You don’t need to worry. I want you to know that we will use every chance in favor of you to provide that you will reach tomorrow as citizens of the Republic of Turkey, brotherly and sisterly,” Soylu said.

Members of Turkic communities were given access to health and social security services, and they were involved in the business life before they were naturalized in Turkey, he added.

Ali Yerlikaya, governor of Istanbul, also addressed representatives of the Turkic communities living in Istanbul at the same event, saying that issuance process of a long-term residence permit could take as short as three months.

The event at Avrasya Show and Arts Center in Istanbul’s Fatih district was organized by the Governorate of Istanbul and the provincial directorate of migration in Istanbul.

3. Turkey's Albayrak says he hopes for current account surplus in June

Turkish Daily Yeni Safak (04.05.19 https://www.yenisafak.com/en/economy/turkeys-albayrak-says-he-hopes-for-current-account-surplus-in-june-3482526) reports that Turkish Finance Minister Berat Albayrak said on Monday he hoped Turkey would post a current account surplus in June for the first time since President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party came to power nearly 17 years ago.

"God willing, we will post the first current account surplus of the AK Party government era in June and start a new era," Albayrak said on Twitter. "We will strengthen our production and export-led economic model with steps in every area, and put the current account issue out of our agenda."

Earlier this month, Turkey's central bank said the country's current account deficit had narrowed to $589 million in March.

4. Former Turkish PM Davutoğlu openly hints at rumored new party

Turkish news portal Turkish Minute (03.05.19 https://www.turkishminute.com/2019/06/03/former-turkish-pm-davutoglu-openly-hints-at-rumored-new-party/) reported that Former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on Sunday publicly signaled the establishment of a new political party, the Cumhuriyet reported.

In a speech at a fast-breaking dinner in his hometown of Konya, the former prime minister called for a “new state of affairs,” which was widely interpreted as a confirmation of long circulating rumors that a new political party is in the making.

“Our country needs a new vision, a new conduct, a new stance and a new state of affairs. Unless we find it, we won’t be able to safeguard our core values and pass the legacy on to the new generations,” he said.

There have been rumors for a while that former top Justice and Development Party (AKP) figures are getting ready to found a new political party as they are uneasy with the policies of the AKP government and its leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Davutoğlu, who served in top positions of AKP governments until he was forced to step down as prime minister in 2016 and sidelined afterwards, has recently begun to openly oppose AKP policies.

He voiced concern about a controversial decision by Turkey’s election authority to cancel the results of a mayoral election in İstanbul, which was won by an opposition candidate. He also criticized the AKP’s economic policies, media restrictions and the damage he said it had done to the separation of powers and to Turkey’s institutions.

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