Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-07-04

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The first reaction of Ankara, Turkish politicians and media to the Egyptian army's overthrow of the President was to condemn it as coup

[02] Support to Turkey by Lithuania EU term presidency

[03] The Shah Deniz decision: More gas for Europe

[04] Erk alleged that the Greek Cypriot side not ready for negotiations; he started meetings with the five permanent UN members ambassadors

[05] "Election" campaign started in the breakaway regime: Parties state their positions

[06] "Council of ministers" cancelled a lease given to Hasiploglu's son by the Kucuk regime

[07] Turkish court cancelled project of Ottoman barracks on Taksim square

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The first reaction of Ankara, Turkish politicians and media to the Egyptian army's overthrow of the President was to condemn it as coup

Ankara has called on Egyptian authorities to respect the rule of law and the people's will by sticking to democratic norms, in an apparent reference to the army's possible intervention into the country's crisis-torn political scene.

For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto
lu discussed the situation in Egypt with a number of his counterparts before returning from his bilateral visit to Singapore. Davuto
lu held talks on the phone with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as well as the British, French, German and Qatari Foreign Ministers, sources told the Daily News.

"Turkey considers the stability and security of brother and friend Egypt as crucially important for both our country and the region, and Turkey has always supported the free will of the noble Egyptian people in the Jan. 25 revolution," a Foreign Ministry statement said today.

In a show of clear support, EU Minister Egemen Ba
1

hailed the firm stance of Morsi against coup plotters as the democratically elected leader of Egypt. Underlining that the worst democracy is even much better the best version of military coups, Ba
1

said: "Mr. Morsi tried to make very important reforms in a very short period of time, in a country with so many problems and where reforms are hard to realize."

He added that Morsi deserved the support of the entire world especially of the European Union. "We should stand against military coups everywhere in the world. We should stand together against any form of coup," he stressed.

On the same issue, under the title "Turkey analyses regional impacts of Egypt coup", journalist Serkan Demirta
, writing in Turkish daily H?rriyet Daily News (online, 04.07.13), reports that Turkey has begun to evaluate the potential impacts of the Egyptian army's overthrow of democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi on the region, with an emphasis on how the development could affect the ongoing internal fight in neighbouring Syria.

"The Egyptian army's intervention will have serious impacts on the region and on the course of the Arab Spring. But it's very hard to estimate how the impact will show itself," a senior Foreign Ministry official told the H?rriyet Daily News in an initial evaluation. "Syria will surely be affected as well, but it's really hard to say how things will change in the field from now on."

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlio
lu and Deputy Undersecretary ?mer ?nhon spent the night at the Ministry yesterday and were in constant touch with Turkish Ambassador to Cairo H?seyin Avni Botsal1
.

Botsal1
's mandate as the ambassador ended on June 30, but the government asked him to stay a few days more to observe the developments in the country before he was scheduled to move to his new posting, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the meantime, President Abdullah G?l is set to receive Turkey's new ambassador to Egypt, Ahmet Y1
ld1
z, in Istanbul this afternoon.

Turkey was among the countries which heavily supported the Morsi government and had established strong ties with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Morsi attended the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) congress last year and praised the support he received from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo
an's government.

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (03.07.13) reports that Spokesperson H?seyin ?elik of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) told reporters July 3 that the Egyptian military's coup ousting elected President Mohamed Morsi is a sign of "backwardness," accusing some Western countries of supporting it.

"Morsi deservedly won by his own efforts the elections organized by a bureaucracy inherited from Hosni Mubarak's era and that took weeks to come to a conclusion," ?elik said, comparing the developments in Egypt with the 1960 and 1980 coups in Turkey.

"This coup has also received foreign support. Some Western countries have not accepted Muslim Brotherhood's arrival to power. They have mobilized the streets, then issued a memorandum, and are now staging the coup," ?elik also said.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy head Faruk Lo
o
lu also expressed concern regarding the situation in Egypt.

Lo
o
lu said that the developments could disrupt the democratization process launched after the Arab Spring movement toppled Mubarak's regime. CHP was not in favour of the army meddling with politics, Lo
o
lu also added.

Numan Kurtulmu
, vice president of the AKP, said it was not possible for people who believe in democracy to accept the coup in Egypt. "We should see it as a blow that was delivered directly to the people of Egypt.

Furthermore, Ankara Anatolia news agency (04.07.13) reports that Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K1
l1
?daro
lu has condemned the Egyptian military's overthrow of elected President Mohamed Morsi.

"Military coups cannot be accepted. I hope that democracy will come [back to Egypt]," K1
l1
?daro
lu said on Thursday in comments on Morsi's removal.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 04.07.13) reports that Turkish political parties in a joint declaration on Thursday condemned a military coup that ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.

A statement from Parliament's Human Rights Commission on Thursday was signed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and opposition Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).

"The ruling power which was usurped by unauthorized powers should be given back to the [Egyptian] people. All democratic individuals and institutions across the world should stand against such moves, which have the potential for human rights violations," the statement said.

Today's Turkish press has seen the Egyptian army's overthrow of the President Mohamed Morsi as a military coup. Some dailies compare the Egypt coup with February 28 post-modern coup. Turkish dailies, that our office received, covered the issue in their front pages as follows:

HURRIYET, under the title "Resist", writes that the army overthrew Morsi, but the President had called on Egyptians "to resist" the military coup. The paper also writes that Turkey had "stepped in for democracy" saying that the Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu as well as EU Minister Bagis had urged European countries and the countries in the region to protect democracy.

MILLIYET, under the title "He asked a settlement at the last minute", writes that the Egyptian President Morsi, who was harsh in his speech two nights ago, proposed a coalition government.

SABAH, under the title "Egypt's February 28", compares the Egyptian military's move to a military memorandum in Turkey on 28th of February, 1997, which forced an elected government to resign. "The army deposed the elected president by force of arms while Morsi called on his people to stand up to the intervention saying he did not recognize this 'post-modern coup'," the paper reports. The daily added: "Ankara warned", quoting Davutoglu "in all democracies elected governments leave office through elections".

CUMHURIYET, under the title "Army got out to the streets", reports that Morsi proposed coalition and the opponents asked his resignation.

ZAMAN, under the title "Morsi proposed compromise, but the tanks were in the street", reports that Morsi's offer to form an interim coalition government was not taken into account.

[02] Support to Turkey by Lithuania EU term presidency

[03] The Shah Deniz decision: More gas for Europe

"Just a few days ago, we got long awaited news from Azerbaijan: the Shah Deniz Consortium ? companies operating the Shah Deniz 2 gas condensate field ? decided to select the pipeline bringing gas from Azerbaijan to Europe. The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) was chosen as the European distribution pipeline for gas coming from the field. This is a historical decision, as it signals that substantial volumes of gas will come to Europe from a Caspian country. For Europe it means 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year starting before 2020. (?)

Azerbaijan is a door opener in this process. But there are further major sources in the Southern Gas Corridor, linking the EU to Turkey, the Eastern Mediterranean, Iraq, Azerbaijan and other countries.

With a real strategic vision, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, along with Turkey, has committed to building a large scalable pipeline, called TANAP, to the European border. It will initially bring gas from Shah Deniz 2, and eventually from other fields in Azerbaijan, to the European market. What we see today is just the beginning. A decision to have TAP built first and to bring more gas later means that the route to Austria ? currently Nabucco West ? is still on the table. The question is not either one or the other, in the medium term both are needed. This is certain: we will need more gas in 2020, and Caspian gas is a good response to this need.

More importantly than the choice between Tap and Nabucco is the opening of the Southern Corridor. With an effective and functioning internal energy market, with the necessary infrastructure and reverse flows in place, once the gas enters the EU, it can be transported anywhere in Europe. With the internal energy market, gas interconnections, championed by the European Commission, will secure the ability of gas to reach member states who have just one or only a few suppliers, such as Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. It is in this sense that the European Commission has been working for the past years. Our main priority is to tackle the most vulnerable countries. On Bulgaria, for instance, Europe must work harder to assist the government make the long-term strategic energy decisions necessary for its energy security.

The commission is also working with Serbia and Bulgaria to build a connection between these two, and Romania is now connected to Hungary and Bulgaria. The North-South initiative, spearheaded by the commission, has put in place many small interconnectors that create a web of interconnection in South East and Central Europe. But more is still needed, to bring competitive prices to Southern Europe.

I want to see thorough development of the resources in the eastern Mediterranean. Cypriot's government efforts to develop a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export facility on the island are part of that endeavour. From Greece, we need a swift liberalized pipeline system up to Ukraine.

And what's in it for Azerbaijan?

What Azerbaijan has realized, and what is often missed elsewhere, is that Europe is a safe bet. European rules are stable, the returns constant and valuable. Azerbaijan is committing its future to Europe.

For Europe, the decision of the Shah Deniz Consortium marks a real breakthrough in terms of securing Europe's energy supplies for the future. In a world of global energy markets and growing competition for resources, we will continue promoting Europe's energy interests and engaging in comprehensive partnerships with key supplier countries. We trust that our efforts will ensure secure energy supplies for European households and businesses and will enhance Europe's competitiveness."

[04] Erk alleged that the Greek Cypriot side not ready for negotiations; he started meetings with the five permanent UN members ambassadors

Erk stated that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready and eager for the Cyprus talks, however he claimed that the Greek Cypriot side "which is inside an involution", as he said, is not yet ready. He said that they want the negotiations to be continued from the point they were left, adding that they want the talks to be "meaningful". "We want the negotiations to have a result. We are ready", he stated.

He went on and said that he started holding meetings with the ambassadors of the five permanent UN members ambassadors to Lefkosia and added that until now he met with the USA and the Russian ambassador to whom he delivered the Turkish side views on the talks as well as their readiness for the launching of negotiations.

Referring to the opening of Varosha, Erk said that the issue is part of a comprehensive solution. On natural gas, Erk said that this is the new "trend" regarding the talks, adding that the previous one was that Cyprus becoming an EU member would have been a catalyst for the solution.

[05] "Election" campaign started in the breakaway regime: Parties state their positions

The chairman of the Turkish Republican Party (CTP) Ozkan Yorgancioglu who made speeches in occupied Lefkosia, Famagusta, Morfou and Trikomo, stated that safeguarding the justice in the island, taking measures for dealing with unemployment and protecting the interests of the labour forces is among the main goals of the Party. He also said that the solution of the Cyprus problem and a viable solution, based in the equality of the two communities and to a federal bi-communal state is the party's duty.

The chairman of the Democratic Party (DP) Serdar Denktas, who was speaking in a meeting of his party in occupied Morfou, criticized strongly the "governments' of UBP and CTP and said that it is not the time his party to come into power.

Kibris writes that Mehmet Cakici, the leader of the Communal Democratic Party (TDP) in a meeting held by his party in occupied Morfou, stated that only TDP can break off the "agley and rancid order" in occupied Cyprus and called on the 'electorate" to make a comparison among the various political parties. He also said that the Turkish Cypriots must be masters in their own house in order for the economy to be improved.

Finally, the chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Izzet Izcan which visited the headquarters of the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Trade Union (KTOS) said that they see the "elections" as a tool for their struggle for a fair solution, noting that when a people comes to the point to have its existence put in danger, must find ways for cooperation and for creation common fronts.

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (03.07.13) writes that the chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP) Irsen Kucuk who was speaking at a television program, called on the "electorate" to vote for his party and accused CTP that if it comes to power, it will make 300 persons from "Lefkosia municipality" to lose their jobs and will also fire 400-500 persons who work at "civil service".

[06] "Council of ministers" cancelled a lease given to Hasiploglu's son by the Kucuk regime

The paper writes that the "council of ministers" cancelled the decision which was taken by the "government" of Irsen Kucuk about a month ago, according to which a newly established company "nephew Ltd" belonging to Oguzhan Hasipoglu, rented a 25-donum plot located by the sea aiming to be used for the building of touristic facilities.

The paper notes that the name of the company' owner is not mentioned in the decision, but Afrika have reliable sources that this person is Oguzhan Hasipoglu, who is known to be the owner of 229 companies in the breakaway regime and who plays a very active role in selling property to foreigners in occupied Cyprus.

[07] Turkish court cancelled project of Ottoman barracks on Taksim square

Authorities may well appeal against cancellation of plans for a replica Ottoman-era barracks on 0
stanbul's Taksim Square. But the ruling marked a victory for a coalition of political forces and a blow for Erdo
an, who stood fast against protests and riots he said were stoked by terrorists and looters.

Can Atalay, a lawyer for the Chamber of Architects which brought the lawsuit, said the administrative court ruled in early June at the height of the unrest that the plan violated preservation rules and unacceptably changed the square's identity. It was not clear why it had only now been released. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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