Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-08-18

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Threats by Ozersay on the explorations for oil and natural gas

[02] Statements by Kucuk on Cyprus' natural resources

[03] Akansoy criticizes Eroglu's and Ozersay's statements on the Cyprus problem and the explorations for natural gas and oil

[04] BKP criticized Eroglu's statement that two "states and peoples" exist in Cyprus

[05] YKP organizes a march to the fenced off town of Varosha

[06] Erdogan said patience exhausted over suspected deadly PKK attack

[07] "Turkey seeks regional stance vis-?-vis Syria"

[08] OIC summit in Istanbul on Somalia famine

[09] "Turkey seeks new nuke partner to 'Finnish' talks"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

Reports about the killing of 11 Turkish troops in an ambush in southeast Turkey, and the reactions created due to this development, Davutoglu's new call for Syria to halt military operations, Turkey's decision to re-open its embassy in Somalia which was closed in 1991, the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Executive Committee in Istanbul on Somalia famine, and other internal issues are some of the main stories covered by today's Turkish dailies.

[01] Threats by Ozersay on the explorations for oil and natural gas

Responding to illegal TAK news agency's questions yesterday, Ozersay noted that the Turkish Cypriot side could take steps similar to the steps taken by the Greek Cypriot side "on the basis of the principle of reciprocity" and added: "In case the Greek Cypriot side does not suspend its activities of exploring/mining natural gas in the southern part of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot side will also start making agreements and exploring for oil and natural gas in the sea of the island".

Ozersay alleged that efforts are exerted to "dominate the will" of the Turkish Cypriot side, but the Turkish Cypriot side will not allow this. He argued that the Turkish Cypriot side could be forced to re-examine elements which it has been postponing only because negotiations are going on and it was thinking that they would make the solution more difficult.

He alleged: "If the Greek Cypriot side is determined in taking steps that will put the future and the sovereignty of the island under dominance in spite of the negotiations, everyone should know that we will also take some steps both on the issue of oil and natural gas and on other issues which we refrained to do until today. Everybody should understand the reality that the Turkish Cypriot side is an actor that should be taken into consideration on these issues".

Ozersay claimed that the issue of oil and natural gas is a matter of sovereignty and that the actions of the Greek Cypriot side on this issue are contrary to the spirit of the negotiations. He alleged: "If the Greek Cypriot administration does not want to maintain this crisis and similar crises which we experienced in the past in the negotiations, it should not act assuming that the Turkish Cypriot side or Turkey will do nothing. There could be nothing more natural than at least expecting this from a side which is supposedly negotiating to solve a dispute".

Ozersay argued that the Middle East problem is being imported to Cyprus and alleged that the Cyprus problem is artificially turned into a Middle East problem with the initiative of the Greek Cypriot side for natural gas and oil. He claimed that the Greek Cypriot side is committing a mistake and alleged that in the past it had committed the same mistake by artificially turning the Cyprus problem into a European dispute with the accession of Cyprus into the European Union before the solution of the Cyprus problem. "That is, while the Cyprus problem was a dispute on national basis in a Mediterranean island, it is made more complicated with the inclusion of both Europe and the Middle East into the dispute", he claimed.

Ozersay alleged that in spite of the fact the UN Secretary-General talks about steps that will help increase the confidence between the communities in Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot side maintains the lack of confidence by saying that it will carry out explorations for oil and natural gas. "In my view, this behaviour of the Greek Cypriot administration is the last thing that the negotiations process needs", he argued.

Ozersay claimed that the modality of the negotiations and the fact that a possible solution will be submitted to two separate and simultaneous referendums, show that only the will of the Greek Cypriots is not enough for the future of the island and that the will of the Turkish Cypriots is also needed.

Ozersay said that the agreements which are on the agenda on the issue of natural gas and oil are not usual agreements because they will create permanent status. Ozersay described as "unacceptable" the signing of these agreements against the will of the Turkish Cypriots.

"These agreements, which are made here and are directly related with sovereignty, have the characteristic of being able to create a permanent situation regarding the future of the island. It is unacceptable to try to do these things in spite of the will of the Turkish Cypriots", he claimed.

Ozersay alleged that this situation is contrary to the principle of continuous sovereignty of the peoples over the natural resources and concluded by saying the following:

"If the Greek Cypriot side says that 'you declared the TRNC and have not right here', let it say it and we will know whether we accept it or not. Moreover, even if the TRNC is accepted by the Greek Cypriot side as a separate and independent state, it is true that we have not yet settled our accounts with the Greek Cypriot side. A possible settling of accounts will require the calculation of how this and similar wealth will be shared and not only the sharing of the past partnership, the agreements, the debts and the archives. For this reason, we should do whatever we can to evaluate this last chance in the negotiations process. Otherwise, everything will be destroyed and we will have to sit and settle our accounts with the Greek Cypriots, who are our interlocutors. The fact that we do not refer to these things today is due to our commitment on the issue of the new partnership".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Statements by Kucuk on Cyprus' natural resources

Kucuk warned the Cyprus Government that it cannot use unilaterally the island's natural resources, which Turkish Cypriots have joint rights over. Calling on the Cyprus Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Kucuk said: "We won't let you use these resources unilaterally."

Accusing the Foreign Minister Marcoullis of raising tension on the issue with her statements, Kucuk reminded that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had made definite statements on the issue.

Kucuk also said: "It is not possible to understand Marcoulli's statements despite the clear statements made by Turkish officials. I want to warn her once again that we won't let them use the island's common resources unilaterally".

[03] Akansoy criticizes Eroglu's and Ozersay's statements on the Cyprus problem and the explorations for natural gas and oil

Akansoy said that in case these approaches are included as negative element in the report on Cyprus to be submitted by the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council, the side which will suffer damage will be the Turkish Cypriots.

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side should face the initiatives of the Greek Cypriots in a diplomatic manner and not by creating conflict with its behaviour, Akansoy said that for some time now it is seen that Dervis Eroglu has started using his old expressions. "He uses another version of his old expressions", he added pointing out that the statements made by Kudret Ozersay are in the same framework.

Recalling that Ozersay said in his statement that the analysis of Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis on the issue of oil and natural gas is "groundless and surprising", Akansoy argued that Ozersay was right on this issue, but his own analysis was also "groundless and surprising".

Reminding that in his statements after the Geneva summit on 7 July the UN Secretary-General called on the leaders to prepare their people for the referendums, Akansoy said: "Very well, how will the people be prepared? Is this issue being discussed now among the people? Mr Eroglu has been closed in his palace, does not inform the Turkish Cypriot people and with his statements stresses sovereignty and separatism. It is true that the same situation exists in the Greek Cypriot side, but we are concerned with the behaviour of our own president".

Akansoy expressed the view that the UN will not remain indifferent to the tension which is created regarding the oil and natural gas. He said that he does not expect many developments on the Cyprus problem until October, but if progress is achieved in the tripartite meeting in October and a meeting similar to the one held in Camp David for the Palestinian problem is held between the sides, some developments might happen. He expressed the view that if a positive climate is seen during the international conference, the UN might bring onto the agenda a comprehensive solution plan for the Cyprus problem.

(I/Ts.)

[04] BKP criticized Eroglu's statement that two "states and peoples" exist in Cyprus

Korkmazhan said that with these statements Eroglu showed how far he is from an early solution to the Cyprus problem. He went on and added that on the 7th July summit in Geneva both Eroglu and President Christofias committed to the UN Secretary-General to work towards finding a federal solution and establish a united Cyprus. "Eroglu's policy is inconsistent and haphazard", he stated.

[05] YKP organizes a march to the fenced off town of Varosha

[06] Erdogan said patience exhausted over suspected deadly PKK attack

"We have run out of the patience that we showed during Ramadan. We are at a point where words fail," Erdogan said on Wednesday afternoon following an urgent meeting held by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) regarding the famine and drought that has been sweeping Somalia in 0
stanbul.

Responding to questions after the meeting, Erdogan reiterated his earlier remarks against the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy (BDP), implicitly accusing the party of failing to distance itself from the PKK. "Those who fail to distance themselves from the PKK will also pay the price for that," he said.

Asked whether Turkey is pondering a cross-border operation in Iraq against PKK bases in the Kandil Mountains, Erdogan said, "From now on, nothing will be discussed but done."

"We will not leave that region [the Southeast] and those people to the separatist terrorist organization," Erdogan added.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 17.08.11), under the title "President Gul says Turkey not waiting for end of Ramadan to fight terror", reports that President Abdullah Gul, commenting on the killing of eleven soldiers and a village guard in Turkey's southeast by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on Wednesday, said Turkey is not waiting for the end of Ramadan when it comes to counterterrorism measures.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 18.07.11) under the title "Turkish jets bomb PKK bases in Iraq", reports that Turkish jets launched air raids on suspected bases belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), in northern Iraq on Wednesday. The raids came hours after eight soldiers and a village guard were killed in an ambush by PKK members.

Some 15 warplanes took off from a Turkish base to strike at bases which the PKK use as a springboard to attack targets inside Turkey, according to a report on the NTV news channel.

CNNTurk television said Turkish F-16s were involved in the raids.

The Turkish reports were based on unidentified sources and there was no immediate official confirmation of the strikes.

If confirmed, the raids would be Turkey's first cross border offensive since last summer, when Turkish warplanes carried out a series of retaliatory air raids on suspected PKK hideouts across the border.

[07] "Turkey seeks regional stance vis-?-vis Syria"

"While making a fresh call for Syria to halt military operations in a crackdown on widespread demonstrations seeking the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday underlined the need for a joint regional stance vis-?-vis the crisis in Syria.

'The bloodshed has to stop, first and foremost. Forming a joint regional stance is one of the most important elements for dealing with this issue,' Davutoglu said at a joint news conference following a bilateral meeting with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh, which was held on the side-lines of an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that discussed ways to help famine and drought-stricken Africa.

'If the operations continue in Syria and the operations become a regional problem, Turkey can naturally not remain indifferent,' Davutoglu said. 'We believe that Syria would make a very big contribution to the stability of the region if it goes through a peaceful transformation. However, for this to happen bloodshed must stop and reforms must be enacted. The sufferings in many cities in Ramadan should end. There are many important common efforts that can be exerted by Turkey and Jordan to form a regional sensitivity because they are both immediate neighbours of Syria. Our consultations will continue and intensify, and we will try to make progress on the issue of a regional stance,' Davutoglu said.

(?)

Asked about a news report that Turkey might create a buffer zone along its border with Syria, Davutoglu, said there was currently no such development. 'We're talking about a border that is 900 km long. We cannot talk about such a development right now,' he said.

(?)

Measures to be taken against Syria are expected to be discussed when Turkey's National Security Council (MGK), which brings together Turkey's top political leaders and military commanders, convenes today [Thursday]. Turkish Ambassador to Syria Omer Onhon will attend the meeting and brief MGK members on the latest developments in Syria.

(?)"

[08] OIC summit in Istanbul on Somalia famine

In a speech sprinkled with references to Islamic piety and criticism of Western capitalism, Erdogan told the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) the famine in Somalia was "a litmus test" not only for Muslims but for the whole of humanity.

Erdogan will travel to Somalia on Thursday with his family. He plans to visit relief camps and will be joined by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his family.

Davutoglu later heads to South Africa and Ethiopia as part of an African tour aimed at raising Turkey's diplomatic presence in the continent and expanding business ties.

Somalian President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, who will accompany Erdogan to Mogadishu, praised Turkey's role. Ahmed said that it was crucial for them to see Turkey shoulder to shoulder at this difficult period Somalia was going through.

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (18.08.11) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, repliying to questions at a press conference held after the meeting of the OIC Executive Committee in Istanbul on Somalia famine, said on Wednesday that Turkey would re-open its embassy in Somalia.

Davutoglu said that Turkey's embassy had served in Mogadishu (capital of Somalia) till 1991, but later the embassy was closed due to security reasons. "We will re-open our embassy in Somalia. Turkey will have a permanent representative office there", he said.

Moreover, Turkish daily Turkiye (online, 18.08.11) reports that representatives from 40 countries convened under the leadership of Turkey in Istanbul within the framework of OIC, where 500 million USD assistance collected for Somalia striving against famine. Turkey made the biggest donation which is 200 million USD. Erdogan, who will travel to Somalia on Friday, would himself deliver the assistance.

[09] "Turkey seeks new nuke partner to 'Finnish' talks"

"Turkey has lost time with its negotiations with Japan on the plans to build a nuclear power plant in Sinop, and it has decided to negotiate with other countries as well, an Energy Ministry official told the Hurriyet Daily News. Finnish nuclear operators are also among the possible candidates.

'We have lost time while negotiating with Japan', the ministry's press undersecretary, Ali Eskigun, told the Hurriyet Daily News in a phone interview on Wednesday. The ministry decided Tuesday to start negotiations with other countries for the nuclear plants planned to be built in the country', he added. 'Japan agrees to construct the nuclear power plant, but they want another company to be its operator.'

Meanwhile, the country is also considering Finnish companies for a partnership to conclude an agreement for operating a nuclear power station planned to be built in the Black Sea province of Sinop, as Japan's TEPCO withdrew from the plant bidding on Aug.4.

A Finnish official mentions names of two companies as possible candidates to operate the plant.

'Teollisuuden Voima Oyj [TVO] and Fortum Oyj might be among the possible candidates,' Risto Isaksson, head of the Public Communication at Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, or STUK, told the Daily News in a phone interview on Tuesday.

(?)" TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article