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Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review-01-02.10.2019

 

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW

No. 185/19                                                                                          01-02.10.2019

 

Content

A. Turkish Cypriot Press

1. Akinci says three-party or five-party meeting possible  in the upcoming months

2. Tatar reiterated that they will never abandon Turkish guarantees

3. Hasipoğlu reiterates that there is no Cyprus settlement, just talks for the foreseeable future

4. CTP-TDP underlined the need for new talks on the Cyprus Problem

5.  DP and the Revival Settlers Party (YDP) agreed to “cooperate in the assembly”

6. The so-called Turkish embassy in the occupied area of Cyprus opened a “consulate general” in occupied Famagusta

B. Turkish Press

1. NSC says that Turkey is determined to continue activities in Eastern Mediterranean

2. Erdoğan says Turkey to resettle 2M Syrians in safe zone

3. Cavusoglu accuses Macron of hypocrisy

4. Akar: “Safe zone in northern Syria should be established fast”

5. Turkey and Jordan sign agreement to boost bilateral trade

6. “People’s alliance” between AKP and MHP is failing under 50% according to various opinion polls in Turkey

 

A. Turkish Cypriot Press

1. Akinci says three-party or five-party meeting possible  in the upcoming months

According to illegal Bayrak television (01.10.19, https://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=akinci-met-with-guterres), the possibility of an unofficial three-party meeting between the two leaders and UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres or a five-party meeting including the guarantor powers could be on the cards in the months ahead, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said on Monday after a meeting with the UN chief on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly.

“It seems that a tripartite meeting could be possible in late October or November but there is nothing definite yet,” Akinci said, adding that his meeting with Guterres had been “very productive”.

He further said that he informed Guterres about the Turkish Cypriot side’s positions, determination and its readiness to agree on the terms of reference, which are based on the joint statement of February 11, 2014, the convergences that were achieved up to the conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana in 2017, and the framework set out by Guterres himself on June 30 during the same conference.

“We are working for a federal partnership on the basis of two constituent states. The Greek Cypriot side is displaying an unclear stance. The Terms of Reference is important in removing any ambiguity,” he added

Akinci pointed out that the UN Secretary-General was keen on taking an initiative on the Cyprus issue but added that such a process required good preparation. He noted that the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy Jane Holl Lute will be continuing her efforts and could be visiting the island in the near future.

“He informed us that Ms. Lute may continue with her consultations…at a later time, he might convene an informal three or five-party meeting. He has not decided how to convene this meeting. He will be in consultation with the sides before he decides,” he said.

Akıncı underlined the need to remove any ambiguity concerning political equality, adding that the principle of effective participation in decision-making processes was of paramount importance for the Turkish Cypriot side.

“We do not want endless negotiations. We have been holding negotiations for the past 50 years. We’ve had more than enough. So, any new process needs to be well structured, it has to be results oriented and well phased so that it gives us results. We do not want a new failure,” he said, claiming that the Secretary-General was thinking along the same lines.

Asked about the Greek Cypriot side’s stance, Akıncı said he did not want to engage in a blame game but said things did not look very positive. “What we are defending or supporting have been included in UN reports and have become UN parameters. We have been trying to remain committed to these convergences. Both political equality and effective participation in decision-making processes are clearly stated in UN documents,” Akinci argued.

He added that it was not possible for the Greek Cypriot side to back out of these convergences. He also claimed that the Greek Cypriot side’s rejection of political equality could go down in the records if it insisted on its current position.

On the issue of hydrocarbons, Akıncı said that all interested parties were concerned about the level of heightened tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, adding: “I told the Secretary-General once again about my proposal. It is extremely important that Guterres adopts a more active stance on this issue”.

2. Tatar reiterated that they will never abandon Turkish guarantees

Turkish Cypriot daily  Vatan (02.10.19) reports on the statements that “prime minister” Ersin Tatar made during the beginning of the new “legislative year” in the occupied area of Cyprus.

Speaking at the “parliament”, Tatar stated that the “government” will do anything possible for the prosperity of the Turkish Cypriot “people” and called on the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to inform the “parliament” and the “government” about his contacts in New York.

Referring especially to the development of the Cyprus problem, he said that new steps must be taken adding that the decision of the “council of ministers for opening Varosha is an example of these steps”.   He also criticized the Greek Cypriot side for its  demand to lift the guarantees in Cyprus and said that the Turkish Cypriots will never abandon Turkey’s guarantees.

In addition, Vatan (02.10.19) reports that in an interview to illegal Bayrak Tatar stated Guterres framework neither  satisfied the National Unity Party nor meet the expectations of the Turkish Cypriot “people”. He also said that re-launching with force the Cyprus negotiations at this point would be wrong and accused the Greek Cypriot side of not accepting the political equality of the Turkish Cypriot people.

He claimed that political equality was not the only problem in Cyprus and claimed the point currently reached is even further behind from the point reached at Crans Montana.

Finally, Tatar said that there was a need for alternative solutions to come to the agenda and  he gave Kosovo as an example of this.

(CS)

3. Hasipoğlu reiterates that there is no Cyprus settlement, just talks for the foreseeable future

According to illegal Bayrak television (01.10.19, https://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=hasipoglu-speaks-on-cyprus-problem-2), Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, self-styled deputy with the National Unity Party (UBP), has said that he was not surprised by the outcome of the meeting between Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, adding that there was no solution, just negotiations for the foreseeable future.

In a written statement, he said: “I don’t think we have been successful in convincing either the UN or the Greek Cypriots that new talks should not be open-ended and results-oriented. From what we have understood is that the most important thing Akinci has been working towards is to make sure the process is kept alive until the forthcoming elections. This means we shall continue to pump false hopes to the public and wait for the Greek Cypriot side to be forthcoming”.

Hasipoğlu said that the UN in its latest report had used the term “foreseeable future” instead of a timetable. This was the result of the Turkish Cypriot side’s efforts as a foreseeable future could be referring to any period of time, he added.

Hasipoğlu argued that the absence of a settlement was the result of both communities having different perceptions of what a federal solution will entail, adding: “Akıncı failed to reach an outcome despite presenting a map during the talks in Switzerland. Instead of showing any flexibility, the Greek Cypriot side now is demanding more territorial concessions and is setting preconditions such as halting drilling activities for hydrocarbons and removal of the guarantees to resume talks”.

Claiming that the Greek Cypriot side also adopted a new position which rejected the principles of political equality and effective participation in decision making processes, Hasipoglu argued: “The more we give the more they ask for. The Greek Cypriots voice their readiness to hold tripartite or five-party talks in an attempt to remove Turkey’s right to intervention and gain more territorial concessions”.

He claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side’s insistence on a federal settlement allowed the Greek Cypriot side to be more comfortable and intransigent at the negotiating table, adding: “When we told them we were reopening Maraş [occupied fenced-off Varosha] they all panicked because they saw the return of the town in the event of a federal settlement as a done deal”. He concluded by saying that the Kosovo model could be applied to Cyprus as well.

4. CTP-TDP underlined the need for new talks on the Cyprus Problem

Illegal Bayrak (02.10.19 https://www.brtk.net/?english_posts=ctp-tdp-evaluate-prospects-for-new-talks) reports that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the opposition Social Democratic Party (TDP) underlined the need for any new talks on the Cyprus Problem to be results-oriented and subject to a time frame.

The leader of the CTP Tufan Erhürman said that the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres must uphold what he said about the need for future negotiations to be results-oriented and not open-ended.

Addressing party members at an event in occupied Famagusta to promote candidates for the upcoming party congress, Erhürman said that Guterres also needed to endorse the principles of political equality, effective participation and rotating presidency which were past convergences that were included in UN Security Council resolutions.

He pointed out that there was no point in starting a new round of talks from scratch.

“We shall not allow the Greek Cypriot side to play for time in a bid to make the international community forget the strong will demonstrated by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side in Crans-Montana in favour of a settlement,” he said.

In addition, in a written statement issued today, the General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Halil Hızal said that the stance to be adopted by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will determine whether or not a new negotiations process will begin.

He said that the Secretary-General’s intention to take on a new initiative was a positive development.

Hızal added that it was important to close the debate on political equality and effective participation in decision-making processes.

“The UN Secretary General’s stance on this issue must be very clear,” the TDP General Secretary said, adding that the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades needed to accept these fundamental principles of a federal solution which had become UN parameters.

He added that the negotiations could only begin in a time framed and results-oriented fashion following the shaping of the Terms of Reference on the basis of past convergences, the 11 February 2014 Joint Declaration and the Guterres framework.

 

5.  DP and the Revival Settlers Party (YDP) agreed to “cooperate in the assembly”

Turkish Cypriot daily Hakikat (01.10.19) reports that a delegation of the Democratic Party (DP) and the Revival Settler’s Party (YDP) held a meeting and decided to cooperation in the “assembly” in the forthcoming “judicial year”.

In statements prior to the meeting, the former leader of the Democratic Party (DP) Serdar Denktas said that this initiative undertaken by the party would include also the other opposition parties, such as the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the Social Democracy Party (TDP). Denktas added that they would further meet with these parties tomorrow and explained that the aim of the meeting is the cooperation between the opposition parties in “parliament” in order to strengthen and to make their voice heard in the “assembly”.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (01.10.19) reports that while the forthcoming “presidential elections” in the occupied area of Cyprus are nearing, a new “right wing alliance” may come out after the latest meeting that the Democratic Party (DP) held with the Revival Party (YDP).

In statements to the paper, Fikri Ataoglu, “deputy” with the Democratic Party and “future leader” of the party, gave signals for a possible “alliance” between DP-YDP and made statements showing that the cooperation between the two parties will not be restricted only in the “assembly” but will be extended also in the forthcoming “presidential elections”.

Meanwhile, in statements on the issue, the leader of the YDP, Erhan Arikli confirmed the cooperation reached between the two parties “within the assembly”, he, however, refuted claims on a possibility of the two parties to merging.

Referring to the forthcoming “presidential elections”, Arikli said that his party has already taken some decisions, such as for example to have its own candidate in the first round of the “elections”. Arikli added that it is early to speak more and give details about the “elections”.

(AK)

6. The so-called Turkish embassy in the occupied area of Cyprus opened a “consulate general” in occupied Famagusta

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (01.10.19) reported that the “Turkish embassy” in occupied Lefkosia announced that the “opening of the first consulate general” in occupied Famagusta.

According to the paper, so-called prime minister Ersin Tatar met in the “prime ministry office” with “Turkish ambassador” in occupied Lefkosia, Ali Murat Basceri and also with the newly “appointed first undersecretary” Ozlem Demir and the newly “appointed consulate general” in occupied Famagusta, Kasim Kaban.

According to information acquired by the so-called “prime ministry office”, Tatar wished good luck to Demir and Kaban for their new “duties”. Tatar further claimed that “the opening of a consulate general in the region of Famagusta would provide services not only to the population in the region but also to the students coming from Turkey to study at the DAU university”.

In his turn, Basceri stressed the importance of the “opening of the consulate general in Famagusta” and claimed that this would serve people who live in occupied Famagusta and Trikomo area.

(AK)

B. Turkish Press

1. NSC says that Turkey is determined to continue activities in Eastern Mediterranean

According to Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu (30.09.19, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/turkey-to-strengthen-efforts-for-syria-safe-zone/1598289), Turkey will further strengthen its efforts to create a safe zone in northern Syria, said the country’s National Security Council on Monday.

“Turkey will further strengthen its sincere efforts to realize the safe zone project,” the council, chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said in a statement following the meeting at the presidential complex in Ankara. It stressed that Turkey considers it as a humanitarian issue and the project will let Syrians' safe return to their homes.

The council further stated that Turkey is determined to continue activities in Eastern Mediterranean within the framework of its continental shelf -- which is registered with the United Nations -- and agreements with the “TRNC” [the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus].

2. Erdoğan says Turkey to resettle 2M Syrians in safe zone

According to Turkish daily newspaper Sabah (01.10.19, https://www.dailysabah.com/legislation/2019/10/01/turkey-to-resettle-2m-syrians-in-safe-zone-president-erdogan-says), Turkey cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of the people throughout the world, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Tuesday at the inauguration of the third legislative session of the Turkish parliament's 27th term.

"Turkey plans to settle 2 million Syrians in a 30-km-wide safe zone to be set up in Syria, starting from Euphrates River to the  Iraqi border, including Manbij," Erdoğan said. "In the same way that Turkey can't turn its back on Syria, it can't ignore what is going on in Palestine, Libya, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan," Erdogan said, adding that the country aims to resolve or contribute to the resolution of the problems.

Erdoğan noted that the number of Syrians returning to their homes since Operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch has reached 360,000. "Turkey backs the territorial integrity of Syria and the political and administrative unity of Syrians," Erdoğan said.

"The only reason Turkey takes action in Syria is because of the direct terrorist threat, which has become an obstacle for Syrians to return to their homes," he claimed. (…)

3. Cavusoglu accuses Macron of hypocrisy

According to Turkish daily newspaper Hurriyet Daily News (02.10.19, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-top-diplomat-accuses-french-leader-of-hypocrisy-147049), Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu slammed the French President's remarks against Turkey, accusing him of hypocrisy.    

During a speech in Strasbourg, France at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Emmanuel Macron criticized Turkey's policy on Syria as well as freedom of expression in the country.    

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Çavuşoğlu said at the same event that Macron "exceeded his boundaries by defaming Turkey on freedom of expression". Çavuşoğlu also rebuked Macron's criticism of Ankara on migration management, stressing that Turkey had implemented all its agreements with the EU on the issue.  "How many migrants has Macron accepted in his country? Instead, he hosted YPG/PKK terrorists at Elysee Palace," Çavuşoğlu claimed.    

Çavuşoğlu accused the French President of being hypocritical, comparing him to “rooster crowing while its feet are covered in dirt”.    

He slammed Macron for his remarks on press freedom and human rights in Turkey, asserting that French intelligence "pressured journalists that investigate arms sale to some Gulf countries". "If Mr. Macron is so sensitive about freedom of expression and press today, why have journalists not been allowed to address the PACE?”    

"Journalists were excluded from the PACE's 70th anniversary celebration due to the blockage of France. Also, we know that Macron has shut down the media department in the Elysee," he further argued.    

4. Akar: “Safe zone in northern Syria should be established fast”

According to Turkish daily newspaper Yeni Safak (02.10.19, https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/safe-zone-in-n-syria-should-be-established-fast-defmin-3501935), Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday that safe zone in northern Syria should be established fast and finalized, we do not have time to waste. "We are closely following developments in the east of the Euphrates and our army is ready in all aspects," said Akar, speaking to journalists after a reception in Ankara. Turkey wants to act in line with the spirit of NATO alliance and strategic partnership, added Akar. (…)

Akar also said that shooting down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near the Syrian border was an "ordinary incident". "Turkish Air Forces strongly defend our airspace," he said, adding: "The investigation into determining the nationality of the UAV is underway".

Turkish F-16s on Sunday shot down an UAV of unknown nationality near the Syrian border after it violated Turkish airspace multiple times.

5. Turkey and Jordan sign agreement to boost bilateral trade

According to Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu (02.10.19, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-jordan-sign-agreement-to-boost-bilateral-trade/1599568), Turkey and Jordan signed a framework agreement for a joint economic committee (JEC) to raise bilateral trade, Turkish Trade Minister announced late Tuesday.

Jordanian Industry, Trade and Supply Minister Tariq Hammouri along with a delegation visited Ankara for the agreement, Ruhsar Pekcan said in a Twitter post. She said the framework agreement, which establishes the JEC, will boost bilateral trade and economic relations.

The two countries' bilateral trade was nearly $960 million, with Turkey's exports to Jordan totalling  $860.9 million in 2018.

The free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries signed in March 2011 was cancelled last year by the Jordanian side due to negative economic conditions. (…)

6. “People’s alliance” between AKP and MHP is failing under 50% according to various opinion polls in Turkey

Turkish daily Cumhuriyet (02.10.19 http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/1608019/Erdogan_a_buyuk_sok__iste_anketlerden_cikan_sonuc.html) writes that the Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is under a big shock since the “People’s alliance” between  the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and  the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) is failing under 50% according to various opinion polls in Turkey.

According to the data that the paper publishes, based on the opinion poll conducted in Turkey,  the power of the parties is as follows:

Political Party

ORC Opinion Poll %

Optimar Opinion Poll %

PIAR Opinion Poll %

ADA Opinion Poll %

Avrasya Opinion Poll %

Avrasya Opinion Poll %

AKP

35,7

40,5

36,7

37.5

29.9

32,5

MHP

16.6

10,9

10,7

9,5

16,0

10,5

People’s alliance

52,2

51,4

47,4

47,0

45,9

43,0

Republican People’s Party (CHP)

30,9

26,7

29,1

22,8

30,8

25,2

People’s Democracy Party (DDP)

9,4

9,3

12,2

9,0

11,7

13,4

Good Party (IP)

4,5

9,0

9,1

7,0

8.9

9,1

New Parties

 

 

 

11,5

 

 

 

(CS)

……………………..

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS / EH)