Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-08-16

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Hasan Ercakica during his weekly press conference

[02] Statements made by Avci on the oil exploitation and Talats letter to President Papadopoulos

[03] OIC´s youth forum to hold meeting in occupied Cyprus

[04] Erdil Nami from Iran calls on the OIC countries to help lifting the so-called international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots

[05] The self-styled mayor of occupied Keryneia visits Hiroshima

[06] Reactions against electricity being brought to occupied Karpasia continue

[07] The Head of the Religious Affairs in occupied Cyprus resigns from his post in order to engage in politics

[08] Abdullah Gul receives support from Turkish civil society organizations

[09] Turkey, the US and Israel to hold joint search and rescue exercise

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[10] Sami Kohen: Aegean like crisis in the Mediterranean

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Hasan Ercakica during his weekly press conference

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) sent on Tuesday a letter to Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos regarding its stance on TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat-Papadopoulos meeting, expected to be held in coming days, announced Hasan Ercakica, the spokesman for the TRNC Presidential Office.

In his letter, Talat expressed his views about the possible content of their meeting, Ercakica told a weekly press conference.

Ercakica said that Talat also expressed his pleasure with Papadopoulos's thought that it is high time for them to meet.

According to Ercakica, Talat did not mention any date for the meeting, and the date of Talat-Papadopoulos meeting will be set by TRNC Presidential Undersecretary Rasit Pertev and Tassos Tzionis, the chief of the diplomatic bureau of the Greek Cypriot administration.

Although the Turkish Cypriot side is trying for a fruitful meeting between Talat and Papadopoulos, Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis continues to harm the political atmosphere with his remarks, Ercakica stated.Ercakica recalled Marcoullis' recent remarks that ´the key in Cyprus was in hands of Turkish army´ and ´they wanted to speak to either Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan or Turkish army´.

Qualifying these recent remarks as unfortunate and meaningless, Ercakica said: ´if the Greek Cypriot administration insists on taking Turkish Armed Forces or Turkish government as an interlocutor in these days while we are trying to organize Talat-Papadopoulos meeting, then they have to explain what they expect from Talat-Papadopoulos meeting.´

´Our aim will be to get the optimum result from this meeting,´ the spokesman said and hoped that this meeting would open the door for negotiations aiming to find a comprehensive settlement to Cyprus question.

´The aim is the resumption of comprehensive settlement negotiations as soon as possible. And if Talat-Papadopoulos meeting can be a milestone in this regard, we are ready to do everything we can,´ he added.

[02] Statements made by Avci on the oil exploitation and Talats letter to President Papadopoulos

"Neither Turkey nor the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will make any concessions on oil and natural gas in Eastern Mediterranean," said TRNC Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Turgay Avci on Wednesday.

Speaking to the AA, Avci indicated that Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos wants to use the issue of oil crisis as a tool for domestic policy.

Avci noted that the "TRNC believes that international corporations will not support the one sided approach of Greek Cypriots to hurt the regional peace".

Avci's comments came after the Greek Cypriot administration opened a tender for companies that can explore oil and natural gas reserves in Eastern Mediterranean.

Minister Avci stressed that with the establishment of the new government in Turkey, Turkey and TRNC will work together to improve the economic conditions in TRNC and open TRNC's path to global scene.

On the same issue, illegal Bayrak television (15.08.07) broadcast the following:

Deputy Prime Minister Foreign Minister Turgay Avci has stated that the Greek Cypriot Administration should give up the idea that the Turkish Cypriot side would wait on the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Avci evaluated the letter sent to Mr. Papadopoulos by President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday to the Anatolian News Agency, in which Mr. Talat expressed his views on the content of a possible meeting between them.

He stressed the fact that if a possible meeting between the two leaders is planned in line with the domestic policy of the Greek Cypriot side, then no successful outcome should be expected from such a meeting.

Reminding that the Leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Tassos Papadopoulos is not new in politics, the Minister Avci said for this reason the Turkish Cypriot side is hopeless about the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Turgay Avci also pointed to the fact that the presidential elections are approaching in South Cyprus, and said that Mr Papadopoulos positive response to Mr Talats letter is a result of growing criticism over him by his opponents that he does not intend to meet with Turkish Cypriots.

Also responding to questions concerning the issue of oil crisis, Mr. Avci said that neither Turkey nor the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will make any concessions on oil and natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean.

Noting that the Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos wants to use the issue of oil crisis as a tool for domestic policy, he however stated that the rights of the TRNC will not be given to the Greek Cypriots.

Mr. Avci also expressed the TRNCs belief that international corporations will not support the one sided approach of the Greek Cypriots as this will hinder regional peace.

The Minister also stressed that with the establishment of the new government in Turkey, Turkey and the TRNC will work together to improve the economic conditions in the Republic and will open a global scene for the TRNC.

[03] OIC´s youth forum to hold meeting in occupied Cyprus

The TRNC Foreign Ministry has announced that the Advisory Board Meeting of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation will take place in the TRNC between 17th and 21st August.

In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, it is stated that the Islamic Conference Youth Forum, which operates as a department of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, has decided to hold its international meeting in the TRNC, following the initiatives taken by the Foreign Ministry to improve its relations with the OIC.

The decision is described as a very positive development by the Ministry in terms of improving relations with the OIC member countries further.

In its statement, the Foreign Ministry also expresses the belief that the Islamic Conference Youth Forum will provide full support to the Turkish Cypriot youth, which suffers from international isolation in its international representation.

According to the statement issued by the TRNC Foreign Ministry, the decision to hold the advisory board meeting of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum comes amid the furtherance of relations between the TRNC and the OIC.

The decision has a great importance for the TRNC as the meeting will take place in an international atmosphere.

During the meeting of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum, participants, together with the TRNC officials, will exchange their views on the Forums future projects and strategies.

Primary goals of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum are to maintain and strengthen the status and interests of the OIC member countries on the international platform, form an international centre for the world youth based on knowledge and experience, and to enable the youth in the OIC member countries to maintain their policies in the most constructive and creative way.

Representatives from the Islamic Conference Youth Forum, the United Nations Development Programme, the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, parliamentarians from the Islamic countries and a delegation of 25 people from the Islamic Conference Youth Forum Secretariat are among those expected to attend the meeting.

During their stay in the TRNC, members of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum will also be received by President Mehmet Ali Talat and Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer.

Tours will also be organized by the Foreign Ministry for the visiting delegation to introduce them the history of the TRNC.

[04] Erdil Nami from Iran calls on the OIC countries to help lifting the so-called international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots

The President of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce- Erdil Nami has called on the Islamic countries to lead the efforts aimed at lifting the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot People.

Mr Nami made the call during his speech at an awards ceremony he attended in the Iranian capital Tehran, called the Excellence and Competitiveness among the Islamic Institutions, which was jointly organized by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Organization of the Islamic Conference on the 12th of August.

In his speech during the ceremony, Mr Nami called on all Muslim businessmen to cooperate with their Turkish Cypriot colleagues and said that the TRNC is able to host the activities which are going to be organized by the Islamic countries.

We share the religion and culture of the Islamic countries and all we want from them is to provide their leading support for the removal of our international isolation and to establish co-operation with the Turkish Cypriot People, he added.

During the ceremony, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce was also given an award which was received by its President.

As part of his contacts in the Iranian capital, Erdil Nami also met with the presidents of the chambers of commerce and industry from the Islamic countries, officials from the OIC, representatives from the Islamic Bank of Development, the Turkish Ambassador to Iran, Husnu Gurcan Turkoglu, as well as with some other foreign ambassadors.

[05] The self-styled mayor of occupied Keryneia visits Hiroshima

A delegation from the Girne (occupied Keryneia) Municipality headed by the Mayor of Girne (occupied Keryneia) Sumer Aygin had contacts in the Japanese city of Hiroshima as guest of the citys mayor Tadadoshi Akiba.

The delegation attended a ceremony marking the anniversary of nuclear attacks during World War II.

During the ceremony which was also attended by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and other high ranking officials, the Mayor of Girne (occupied Kereyneia) Sumer Aygin signed the memorial book.

Cypriots are the people who suffered from war and immigration. As the Girne (occupied Keryneia) Municipality and people living in Girne (occupied Keryneia) are working hard to prevent any possible war in Cyprus again. We can understand and share your pain he wrote to the book.

During his meeting with the Mayor of Hiroshima, Mr Aygin conveyed Foreign Minister Turgay Avcis message which he said that the Turkish Cypriots will continue its peaceful efforts.

For his part, Tadadoshi Akiba said they are observing Turkish Cypriot Peoples peaceful efforts with respect.

[06] Reactions against electricity being brought to occupied Karpasia continue

The United Cyprus Party has made a call for the works carried out to supply electricity to the tip of the Karpaz (occupied Karpasia) Peninsula to be halted.

Meanwhile, the Improved Sustainable Environment Platform has announced that it will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights if no conclusion was reached in court in the TRNC.

In a written statement issued today, the Secretary General of the United Cyprus Party Izzet Izcan accused the government of intending to enable the Karpaz (occupied Karpasia) Peninsula for construction by providing electricity to the area.

The area may be returned to the South Cyprus if a possible solution is found to the Cyprus problem but by providing electricity to the area and developing the government is intending to keep the Karpaz Peninsula under its control, he added.

Also accusing the government of turning a deaf ear to the reactions by society and environmentalist organizations, Mr. Izcan said this is an indication that the area may already have been subdivided.

Meanwhile, the Improved Sustainable Environment Platform held a press conference today to evaluate the latest developments on the issue. At the press conference, the members of platform have announced that they will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights if no conclusion was reached in court in the TRNC.

The members of the platform also pointed out that it is illegal to supply electricity to the Karpaz (occupied Karpasia) Peninsular which is the only National Park in the country.

Earlier, Cyprus Turkish Electricity Department announced that that power will be provided to the area within three months unless a court order is taken on the issue.

[07] The Head of the Religious Affairs in occupied Cyprus resigns from his post in order to engage in politics

According to the paper, Ahmet Yonluer who is close to the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has resigned from his post due to accusations directed against him regarding his post. In a written statement issued regarding his resignation, Mr. Yonluer stated that he has decided to leave his duty as Head of the Religious Affairs Department of the Turkish Cypriots in order the institution, which is one of the most pre-eminent bodies for the Turkish Cypriots, not to loose its influence and for him to be able to react strongly towards the accusations against him. He went on and said that these accusations made his entry into politics inevitable.

(ML)

[08] Abdullah Gul receives support from Turkish civil society organizations

Gul paid a visit to representatives of business and workers' unions, including the Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-0), the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchange (TOBB) and the Labour Confederation (Hak-Is).

[09] Turkey, the US and Israel to hold joint search and rescue exercise

The paper writes that according to AFP news agency, ten ships, four helicopters and four search and rescue airplanes from the three countries are going to participate in the exercise.

Officials of the Israeli army have stated that the aim of the exercise is the improvement of the security level in the Mediterranean and added that the exercise will increase the coherence and the cooperation among the naval and the air forces of the three countries.

(ML)

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[10] Sami Kohen: Aegean like crisis in the Mediterranean

Will the Greek Cypriot Administration, using its international advantageous position start petrol and natural gas exploration in its Exclusive Economic Zone in the East Mediterranean?

As I mentioned in my yesterdays article, 16 August that is tomorrow is a critical date as regards the above question.

According to news, coming in from Nicosia, the government of President Papadopoulos is firm to issue exploration permits to the companies which took part in the tender.

In fact, recently several Greek Cypriot officials headed by the Foreign Minister Erato Markoullis, have openly declared that despite Ankaras warnings, they are firm in exercising their sovereign rights on this issue.

The Greek Cypriots are encouraged by being recognized as state and in line with this; they are considered exercising their sovereign rights.

Another aspect that encourages them is that, the companies involved in the international energy sector, are cooperating with them, as well as a lot of states consider the Greek Cypriots right in their action.

The latest statement by the Spokesman of the EU Commission, Petro Petruci that the Cyprus Republic is completely sovereign in signing international treats and no state could question their validity.

Subtitle: The world see it differently

Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots strongly object to this. According to the Turkish view, the Papadopoulos administration has no right, with one-sided decision to engage in gas and oil exploration and exploitation activities in the East Mediterranean. Because the Greek Government does not represent the whole of the divided island. It only represents the Greek Cypriot side.

Therefore, the agreements concluded by an illegitimate administration should not be considered valid

To be honest, this thesis does not enjoy, on the international platforms, acceptance. Had it enjoyed acceptance, it would have not been accepted ´half´ of the island as the Republic of Cyprus.

Therefore, one should not expect that the states or the companies that reached agreement with the Papadopoulos government declare null and void these agreements that they had signed.

The Turkish side may have another more effective argument: The Greek Cypriot government, in this issue had acted as though no Turkish side exists. And did not consult with the Turks in the island. In fact, one of the former ministers Nicos Rolandis in an article last October has demanded that consultations should take place with the Turkish side prior to starting this work. He even suggested that a joint fund, an escrow account, should be opened, and revenues received from oil and natural gas be deposited in this account until a solution (unification) is realized.

Subtitle: Turkey on the stage

Ankara was forced to take ´counter action´ in the face of one-sided action of the Papadopoulos government.

Turkeys strategy aims at three objectives.

First, to preclude the Greek Cypriots attempts using legal aspects. To do this, it is necessary to explain to the international community that this is not a legal action and make the interested states and companies to withdraw from this venture.

Second, to declare that Turkey as well has territorial water rights in the region and will start similar explorations, (in fact, permission has been issued to TPAO to explore oil in the same coordinates).

And the third, to declare that if the Greek Cypriots do not heed the warnings, force will be used to prevent it.

The first has no much chance for success.

The second can be realized of course. But, will it be legally acceptable?

One could argue it.

Exactly similar disagreement like the Aegean one will surface. And this like the Aegean one would bring the sides to the brink of an armed conflict.

The disagreement in the Aegean, because of the existing dialogue between Ankara and Athens was confined. However, the case of Cyprus there exist no dialogue

(MHY)

EG/

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