According to illegal Bayrak television (19.09.19, https://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=burcu-slams-anastasiades-for-remarks), Baris Burcu, spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, said in a written statement yesterday that the Cyprus problem will be solved between two equal entities and not on the basis of a majority-minority relationship.

Burcu’s statement was issued in response to earlier remarks by Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades to the Associated Press.

Noting that the Greek Cypriot leadership needed to come to terms with this reality that had become a UN parameter, Burcu claimed: “Anastasiades has attempted to distort the truth by claiming that Turkey was trying to impose the principles of effective participation in decision-making processes and the concept of a positive vote. Political equality and effective participation in decision-making processes have been Turkish Cypriot positions from the very beginning. This position which is supported by Turkey is also a UN parameter”.

Burcu reminded that the principles of political equality and effective participation in decision-making processes which had made their way to various UN reports and Security Council resolutions were among the fundamental concepts which have been agreed upon in the negotiations. He recalled that a convergence already existed for a positive vote in the Council of Ministers of a future federal Cyprus.

Burcu accused Anastasiades of ignoring the political equality of Turkish Cypriots and of denying existing convergences. “As it is known, the UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute has yet to finalize the terms of reference. Our effort as the Turkish Cypriot side is to create these terms of reference through constructive approaches,” he added.

Burcu said that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to work in good will in a calm and constructive manner through cooperation with the UN, claiming that the Turkish Cypriot side remained committed to past convergences and UN parameters.

2. Akinci to depart for New York on Sept. 23

According to illegal Bayrak television (19.09.19, https://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=akinci-to-depart-for-new-york-on-sept-23), Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will be departing for New York on Monday September 23 to hold a series of contacts within the framework of the UN General Assembly meetings.

Akinci will be meeting with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly as part of efforts to finalize the terms of reference which will pave the way for the resumption of talks aimed at reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The date of the meeting has yet to be announced.

Akinci will be accompanied by his special representative Erhan Erçin, his spokesman Barış Burcu and his private secretary Cenk Gürçağ.

Akıncı and his accompanying delegation are expected to return on October.

3. The Turkish Minister of Education in the breakaway regime

Illegal Bayrak (19.09.19 https://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=ziya-selcuk-in-trnc) reports that the Turkish Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk is paying an illegal visit to the breakaway regime and held meetings with various “officials”.

He met with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı and then he met separately with the “speaker of the parliament” Teberrüken Uluçay and the “minister of education” Nazım Çavuşoğlu.

“Speaking during the visits, the Turkish Education Minister expressed Turkey’s desire to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of education”, Bayrak broadcast.

Uluçay underlined the importance of education and said that investments were being made for the long term. He said that “they were working hard to create an education system in the TRNC that everyone desired”. Uluçay added that there were technical problems in achieving this but that they would overcome these with the support of Turkey.

Speaking during the visit paid to him, Çavuşoğlu reminded that his recent contacts in Ankara had focused on “ways of improving the quality of education in the TRNC”.

He said that difficulties being experienced in the “TRNC” were being overcome with the support of Turkey. Pointing out that there was an increase in the number of students every year, Çavuşoğlu said that there was a shortage of teachers but that they were carrying out their duties in the best way possible.

4. Two persons were arrested in the occupied area of Cyprus for connections with FETO

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (19.09.19) reports that two persons were arrested in the breakaway regime with the accusation that they had connections with FETO. The paper writes that arrests were made in 7 regions in Turkey, as well. All the persons put under arrest were members of the army.

(CS)

5. Columnists argue that the incident of the Greek Cypriot teen stealing the flag was a subject of political exploitation

Under the title “A Greek Cypriot stole a flag, what will happen with what the Turks do to the Turks?”, Ali Baturay, chief-in-editor in Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper Kibris (19.09.19), writes that he does not agree that what the Greek Cypriot teenager did was correct, it was wrong, but after all, he is just a crazy 16 year-old boy, adding that this act could almost cause a big crisis.

Baturay further writes: “Has not this society suffered enough from war, conflicts, hostility? Which one of you wasn’t 16? Things like that happen at that age, the child regretted it, apologized, what more? The Greek Cypriot stole a flag and a portrait from the Turks, but haven’t the Turks stolen anything from the Turks?

How many times have we reported as news that a flag was stolen in the villages and the cities, the photos and the posters on these walls were torn, or taken away, the Ataturk statues or other statues were damaged, (…) … A Turk kills a Turk, a Turk beats a Turk, (…) a Turk rapes a Turk, a Turk beats his own Turkish wife… should I continue? (…) Do you say ‘a Turk can kill a Turk, but a Greek Cypriot cannot steal a flag’? (…)

Some politicians have tried to exploit politically the situation. (…) We should learn to ‘have an old head on young shoulders’, we should not play the game of fanatics, we should not turn every negativity into Turkish Cypriot – Greek Cypriot conflict, we should not scratch the wounds and try to benefit from the tension. We should not hold 800,000 Greek Cypriots responsible for a mistake made by a Greek Cypriot. These tensions, neither benefit the solution nor bring any mutual economic rapprochement…”

On the same issue, columnist Cenk Mutluyakali, writing in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (19.09.19), under the title “Worshipping”, argues that it was unnecessary for the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to kiss the flag, to put it on his forehead, to pose it facing the director of the school in front of the media, in his commentary as follows:

“The ritual held in Akdogan – Lysi after years is positive in terms of respect to faith. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of Greek Cypriots (…). Of course, there was a new confrontation with the ‘property reality’. Because these people [the Greek Cypriots] come to their own places with permission. It is not easy. (…)

Let’s talk, a 16 year-old child stole a flag and a portrait… Childish! In my opinion, the result of a national blindness created by the racist education system…

The apology of the teen’s family is a hope for the future. But it is best to leave it in its ‘innocence’. The ‘nationalist demonstrations’ are not what we need.

The ‘flag ceremony’ in front of the media, while we are walking down the road to peace, fosters chauvinism… we know the answer to the question ‘why did Akinci do this?’. We all know. Because we have elections. But I don’t think even the ‘flag kissing’ photo can direct the nationalist votes to him… The ‘policy of worship’ has always made this society lose.”

(DPs)

B. Turkish Press

1. Fatih may sail to Black sea

Turkish daily Yeni Safak (19.09.19) reports that the Turkish drilling ships Fatih and Yavuz are getting ready for new routes. Yavuz drilling vessel, which completed its activities off occupied Karpass area with the accompaniment of Turkish warships, returned to Taşucu Port. Yavuz was assigned for drilling in another position in the Eastern Mediterranean, and after completing its preparations, it would move to another zone.

The Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa Seismic Research Vessel has been conducting research activities in the south of the island of Cyprus for some time. Although there is no official explanation, it is stated that the new location of Yavuz may be the new sites identified in this region, according to Yeni Safak.

The paper writes that Fatih drilling vessel, which is still off the coast of Paphos completed its activities there and its new route has not yet been determined. However, Fatih, can be assigned to the Black Sea.

Fatih and Yavuz ships are preparing for new duty orders, while the MTA Oruç Reis research ship arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean. Oruç Reis’s new route, which traveled under the escort of the Turkish Navy off the coast of Antalya, was not announced.

(CS)

2. AKP: Turkey seeks political settlement in Syria

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (19.09.19 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-seeks-political-settlement-in-syria-akp-146682) reports that Turkey is seeking a political settlement to the lingering conflict in Syria and the elimination of threats on its southeastern border, the country's ruling AKP said.

Referring to a trilateral summit on Syria in Turkey earlier this week, party spokesperson Ömer Çelik said: “It was extremely important for all three leaders to oppose these separatist agendas." "Turkey continues to work with other parties as well as with Russia to control the situation in Syria's Idlib,” Çelik added.

3. Main opposition CHP to hold Syria conference

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (19.09.19 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/main-opposition-chp-to-hold-syria-conference-146683) reports that Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) will hold an International Syria Conference on Sep. 28 in Istanbul, according to a party statement. The conference will address topics including "the international dimension of the Syrian issue, the problems faced by Syrian refugees, social life and integration, the strategic role of the regional actors, and the role of local administrations," said the statement.

In the conference, CHP will thoroughly examine the Syrian issue with reference to self dynamics of Syria's neighbors and the region, it added.

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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS/EH)

ΜΜΕ & ΕΙΔΗΣΕΙΣ

Τ/Κ & ΤΟΥΡΚΙΚΟΣ ΤΥΠΟΣ

ΕΚΣΤΡΑΤΕΙΕΣ & ΠΑΡΑΓΩΓΕΣ

ΕΚΔΟΣΕΙΣ

ΑΡΧΕΙΑ

ΥΠΗΡΕΣΙΕΣ ΜΕΤΑΦΡΑΣΗΣ

Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review-19.09.19

A. Turkish Cypriot Press

1. Burcu: “Political equality and effective participation in decision-making have been Turkish Cypriot positions from the very beginning”