Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review-30.10.19
No. 726
Content
1. Tatar insists on two separate states in Cyprus
2. A team of experts from Turkey to determine the cause of yesterday’s plane crash
3. Haberci paper wonders if the ice has broken between Akinci and Turkey
4. Ustel announces the regime’s target in tourism for 2025
5. Turkish assault boats in occupied Cypriot ports
1. US Ambassador summoned over House's resolution on sanctions, events of 1915
3. Turkey, Russia and Iran issue joint statement on Syria
4. Turkey's economic confidence rises to 89.8 in October
A. Turkish Cypriot Press
1. Tatar insists on two separate states in Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Güneş (30.10.19) reports that Ersin Tatar, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has alleged that the Greek Cypriot side actually wanted a federal unitary state member of the EU in Cyprus and the bonds [of this state] with Turkey to be interrupted slowly. In statements yesterday during a meeting with an association of war veterans from Turkey, Tatar said that the tripartite meeting would take place in Berlin on 25 November, the day on which the Berlin Wall had collapsed. He argued that an effort was exerted to give the message that “Nicosia is the last wall in the EU” and added that this message should be read and evaluated correctly.
Tatar alleged that the people, who believed that the ties between Turkey and the “TRNC” [Translator’s note: This is how he called Turkey’s subordinate administration in the occupied area of Cyprus] should be strengthened knew that the Greek Cypriots had allegedly not abandoned their so-called dream to turn Cyprus into a Greek island and to give the minority status for the Turks. He claimed that from this point of view, the Guterres Framework included “tricks” and referred to “zero troops, zero guarantees”. Tatar further alleged the following:
“With some tricks, with free movement within the EU, free settlement, territorial concessions and watering down the guarantees, we will see that, in due course, Turkey’s withdrawal from here will come onto the agenda. They say that a third country could not be a guarantor of an EU member state. This is the point to which they brought this issue. Therefore, we are strongly opposing this”.
Reiterating the view that after 50 years of negotiations an agreement based on “sovereign equality” was needed and not an agreement based on “political equality”, Tatar said that an agreement based on “sovereign equality” consisted of “two separate states”. He claimed the following: “They tell us that this was not realistic. The UN would not accept it. However, they are the ones who are not realists. Because the real truth is that currently two separate states exist in Cyprus. There is a state in the Greek Cypriot side. There is a state in the north. There is no power that can eliminate this state”.
Referring to the hydrocarbon resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, Tatar underlined the importance of the drillings carried out by “strong Turkey” with her ships together with the “TRNC” and alleged that “the TRNC’s existence is important now for Turkey’s security”. “The TRNC should exist in this geography”, he claimed, arguing that the existence of the breakaway regime gave power to the Turkish nation.
(I/Ts.)
2. A team of experts from Turkey to determine the cause of yesterday’s plane crash
According to Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper Kibris Postasi (30.10.19, http://www.kibrispostasi.com/c111-GECITKALE/n301623-turkiyeden-gelen-heyet-gecitkaledeki-kaza-ile-ilgili-calisma), a team of experts from Turkey arrived in the occupied area of Cyprus this morning to launch an investigation to determine the cause of the crash, which occurred yesterday in occupied Lefkonoiko airport and caused the death of two pilots.
Under the title “We are hurting”, Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper Kibris (30.10.109) reports that a newly purchased training plane belonging to the Air Sports Federation crashed half an hour after taking off from the Geçitkale airport [translator’s note: the occupied airport of Lefkonoiko] near the runway. Two experienced pilots flying the plane died as a result of the crash.
(DPs)
3. Haberci paper wonders if the ice has broken between Akinci and Turkey
Under the title “The ice has broken?”, Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper Haberci (30.10.19), in a front page comment, wonders whether the ice has broken between the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and Turkey, due to the crisis, which created between them as a result of Akinci’s statements on Turkey’s military operation to Syria.
According to the paper, Akinci attended yesterday, with his wife, the ceremony marking the 96th anniversary of Turkey’s Republic at the Turkish “embassy” in the occupied part of Nicosia.
(DPs)
4. Ustel announces the regime’s target in tourism for 2025
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkın Sesi (30.10.19) reports that Unal Ustel, self-styled minister of tourism of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that their target was to reach two million tourists and two billion dollars income from tourism in 2025.
Addressing the opening ceremony of Antalya Tourism Fair yesterday, Ustel alleged that an embargo was implemented on “northern Cyprus” in the field of transports both through the sea and the air and added that direct flights could not be carried out. He argued that in spite of these difficulties, they increased their bed capacity from 1,000 to 26,000 beds and the number of their tourists from 50,000 to the level of two million. “Our target for 2025 is to reach two million tourists and two billion dollars income from tourism”, he added.
According to the paper, almost 1,000 agents participate in the fair, including the unions of the Turkish Cypriot travel agents (KITSAB) and hoteliers (KITOB). During the opening ceremony, there was a presentation about the occupied area of Cyprus.
(I/Ts.)
5. Turkish assault boats in occupied Cypriot ports
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkın Sesi (30.10.19) reports that two assault boats of the Turkish navy visited yesterday the occupied ports of Keryneia and Famagusta, within the framework of the celebrations for Turkey’s 29 October Republic Day. Assault boat TCG Kılıç (P-330) was open to the public in occupied Keryneia port and TCG Yıldız (P-348) in occupied Famagusta port.
(I/Ts.)
B. Turkish Press
1. US Ambassador summoned over House's resolution on sanctions, events of 1915
According to Turkish daily newspaper Hurriyet Daily News (30.10.19, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/u-s-ambassador-summoned-over-house-votes-on-sanctions-events-of-1915-148079), The U.S. Ambassador to Ankara David Satterfield has been summoned to the Foreign Ministry for a resolution passed by the US House of Representatives on the events of 1915, said diplomatic sources, who stressed it “lacks any historical and legal basis,” and for the implementation of sanctions in connection with “Operation Peace Spring.”
Foreign Ministry also rejects the resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on the events of 1915, according to a statement.
“We reject the resolution H.R. 296 entitled 'Affirming the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide' that is adopted today by the U.S. House of Representatives as expressing the sense of the latter,” the Ministry said in a statement, referring to the events of 1915.
Earlier, the House of Representatives passed a resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide, with lawmakers voting 405-11.
“The resolution, which has apparently been drafted and issued for domestic consumption, is devoid of any historical or legal basis,” the Ministry claimed.
Noting that “the resolution is not legally binding and a meaningless political step,” the Ministry argued it is only addressed to the Armenian lobby and anti-Turkey groups. (…) It added that the Turkish government and people consider the resolution “totally null and void”. (…)
“Ruined big game w/#OperationPeaceSpring,” Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu also wrote on Twitter following the approval of the resolution. (…)
“Those whose projects [in northern Syria] were frustrated turn to antiquated resolutions. Circles believing that they will take revenge this way are mistaken. This shameful decision of those exploiting history in politics is null &void for our Government &people,” he added.
Turkey's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also warned that those who voted in favour of the resolution will be responsible for the “deterioration” of bilateral ties. (…)
Touching on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's stance regarding the events, Altun said: “President @RTErdoğan has already expressed sympathy and conveyed his condolences to the Armenian community. He also expressed our willingness to establish a joint historical commission to investigate what happened during the First World War”. (…)
Turkey's Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalın also condemned the resolution on Twitter. “The Armenian resolution of the U.S. House of Representatives is one of the embarrassing examples of using history as a tool of politics”. (…)
2. “We have no business where we have no rights”, Erdoğan said, referring to the Eastern Mediterranean issue
According to Turkish daily newspaper Hurriyet Daily News (30.10.19, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/terrorists-withdraw-from-safe-zone-area-erdogan-announces-148072), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Oct. 29 that Russia informed the Turkish authorities that terrorists withdrew from northern Syria.
Speaking at a reception for Republic Day in Ankara, Erdogan said: "The 120-hour agreement with the U.S. and the 150-hour agreement with Russia, which we made ended. We will have talks tomorrow", and added that, apart from Turkey, everyone who is interested in Syria has the primary goal of controlling oil resources.
"A primitive understanding that considers a drop of oil more valuable than a drop of blood, is blatantly obvious," he said.
He went on to claim that, Turkey is the only country that prioritizes only people rather than opportunities of oil and power, when looking at Syria. "Turkey has shown what it can do with its own means and without getting permission, when it comes to national security and historical responsibilities,” he said, adding that Turkey's operation has shown once again that the efforts to weaken Turkey are futile. (…)
“We have rights in these lands, seas. We have no business where we have no rights,” Erdoğan also said, referring to the Eastern Mediterranean issue. Erdoğan highlighted that there has been no regret for those who stood with Turkey in the past. (…)
Turkey will never allow a terror corridor in its southern border, fighting against terrorism will continue with determination, the National Defence Ministry said on Oct. 29.
"It has been reported by the Russian Federation that YPG has been removed from the 30 kms beginning from the Turkey-Syria border as well as out of Manbij and Tal Rifat with their heavy weapons at the end of 150-hour period," the ministry said in a statement.
Touching on the planned joint patrols between Turkey and Russia, the ministry said that they would be conducted in the west and east of the borders of current Operation Peace Spring at a depth of 10 kilometres, except for the city of Qamishli. (…)
The statement also mentioned that establishing a peace corridor will ensure the voluntary and safe return for Syrian refugees to their homes.
Meanwhile, Turkish daily newspaper Milliyet (29.10.19, http://www.milliyet.com.tr/siyaset/sahada-kararlilik-vurgusu-6067744) reports that Erdogan, during his speech at the reception, connected live with TCG Gokceova frigate, which is carrying out duties in the Eastern Mediterranean, to congratulate the crew for their services.
3. Turkey, Russia and Iran issue joint statement on Syria
According to Turkish daily newspaper Hurriyet Daily News (30.10.19, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-russia-iran-issue-joint-statement-on-syria-148071), the Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Russia and Iran reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria in a joint statement on Oct. 29.
They issued the statement as guarantor states of the Astana process on the peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis ahead of the first meeting of the Constitutional Committee of Syria, which consists of government, opposition and civil society members.
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen had earlier met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif ahead of the committee's inaugural meeting on Oct. 30.
They expressed their conviction that the launch of the Constitutional Committee proved "there could be no military solution to the Syrian conflict".
They said they were committed to advancing a viable and lasting Syrian-led and Syrian-owned and UN-facilitated political process in line with UN Security Council resolution 2254, which was backed by all members of the Security Council. (…)
"Russia informed us that PKK/YPG elements left. We have to believe our Russian partners, but we cannot trust terrorists," Çavuşoğlu said at the press conference in Geneva with his Russian and Iranian counterparts. He said the launch of talks for a new Syrian constitution is a huge step forward. (…)
"This is a huge joint victory," said Lavrov, noting that there were "a lot of difficulties" to get to the start of the constitutional committee, which confirms the "commitment to the territorial integrity of Syria". "There is no military solution for the Syrian conflict," added Lavrov.
Zarif agreed that the constitutional committee is the beginning of "a very difficult process". "The commission must be Syrian-owned and led and must be acceptable to the Syrian people," he said, and not "foreign-led". "We insist on the territorial integrity of Syria, and the armed forces of Syria should control it", said Zarif.
4. Turkey's economic confidence rises to 89.8 in October
According to Turkish daily newspaper Yeni Safak (30.10.19, https://www.yenisafak.com/en/economy/turkeys-economic-confidence-rises-to-898-in-october-3504059), Turkey's economic confidence index rose to 89.8 in October, official data revealed on Wednesday. The figure surged 4.5% from 86 in September, the Turkish Statistical Authority (TurkStat) said.
"This increase in economic confidence index stemmed from the increases in consumer, manufacturing industry, services, retail trade and construction confidence indices," TurkStat noted.
In October, the consumer index stood at 57, the real sector index at 104.2, services index at 90.7, retail trade at 102.3 and construction confidence index at 65.1.
The economic confidence index is a composite index that encapsulates consumers' and producers' evaluations, expectations, and tendencies about the general economic situation.
A total of 20 sub-indices are used in the calculation, with data collected in the first two weeks of each month.
In 2018, the index saw its highest value in January at 105.2 points, and the lowest figure was recorded at 75.2 points in November.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/ MP)
ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟ ΤΥΠΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΠΛΗΡΟΦΟΡΙΩΝ
