Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-07-19

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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] Eroglu claimed that the forthcoming negotiations is the last chance for Cyprus settlement

[02] Ertug comments on Andreas Mavroyiannis' appointment as negotiator of the Greek Cypriot side in the Cyprus talks

[03] Eroglu briefs Turkish and foreign journalists on the Cyprus problem

[04] Yildiz: Barbaros seismic research vessel will conduct seismic research around the south part of occupied Cyprus

[05] Self-styled deputy speaker briefed foreign journalists on the "effect of the search for natural gas, on Cyprus talks"

[06] Atalay and Cicek to illegally visit the occupied Cyprus for Turkish invasion's celebrations

[07] Pollution reaches the coasts of occupied Vokolida; Self-styled minister says the leak was over 100 tons

[08] TMT's letter to UNSG demanding recognition of the breakaway regime "TRNC"

[09] Ankara says won't tolerate PYD's fait accompli in northern Syria

[10] Erdogan defends Egypt and Syria stance, criticizes EU at Ambassadors' iftar dinner

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu claimed that the forthcoming negotiations is the last chance for Cyprus settlement

"I am saying this very clearly. The last chance is in front of us. Either we evaluate this opportunity and reach a solution, or the possibility for reaching a permanent agreement will be lost completely", he alleged.

Eroglu, who praised Turkey for conducting the invasion to Cyprus, stated that the realities in Cyprus must not be denied. Referring further to the negotiations, Eroglu said they expect the talks to be launched in October and alleged that the Turkish side is honest as regards its intension for a solution based on the realities in Cyprus.

He went on alleging that the Cyprus problem will continue to be a "national problem" for the whole of Turkey.

[02] Ertug comments on Andreas Mavroyiannis' appointment as negotiator of the Greek Cypriot side in the Cyprus talks

Ertug alleged that it would be a "false pretext", if President Anastasiades showed the economy as a reason for refraining from the negotiations" and claimed that the Turkish Cypriots are also dealing with their economic problems, but they negotiate. "We are dealing with environmental disasters but we negotiate", he argued alleging that "it is in Anastasiades hand to show political will".

He argued: "The leaders can take the political decisions in the name of their peoples. The two leaders will continue negotiating. Neither we nor the UN have different view on this issue. Degrading the level is not correct and acceptable? If the issue is to degrade [the negotiations by] one level, this situation will complicate the negotiations and show that the other side continues its delaying tactics".

Referring to the powers, which, he said, the National Council has been given recently, Ertug wondered whether the Turkish Cypriot side will be negotiating with President Anastasiades or with the National Council. He added; "Mr Anastasiades says he will be asking the approval of the political parties which represent 75% of the people in the National Council when he submits proposals at the negotiations. He says that even our proposals could be discussed only in case this 75% approves them".

Alleging that the majority of the parties in the National Council have "hard line views", he claimed that the mechanism which is created is very complicated and that the negotiator's manoeuvre area and the way he could be acting within this mechanism is debatable. He said that news has been published on the issue of the extent to which the decisions of the National Council will be binding for President Anastasiades and alleged that this shows that the Greek Cypriot leader has completely transferred his powers to the National Council.

Ertug said that they will share their concerns with UN Secretary-General's special adviser Alexander Downer who is expected to visit the island shortly.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Eroglu briefs Turkish and foreign journalists on the Cyprus problem

Asked to comment on the appointment of Andreas Mavroyiannis by the National Council as negotiator of the Greek Cypriot side in the negotiations for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, Eroglu said that the UN recognizes the two community leaders as negotiators, that the negotiations are held between the community leaders and that the community leaders are the ones who will take a possible agreement text to referendum.

Eroglu said that the two community leaders will be the decision taking centre in the negotiations and alleged that President Anastasiades "binds himself too much on the National Council' and tries to change the position of the National Council which is not a decision taking centre.

Eroglu reiterated the Turkish allegation that the Turkish side was not the side that runs away from the negotiations and that it has accepted three solution plans submitted by UN Secretary-Generals Peres de Quellar, Boutros Ghali and Kofi Annan. He claimed that from the establishment of their so-called Federated State in 1975 until the declaration of the "TRNC" in 1983, the Turkish Cypriots waited for the Greek Cypriots to accept a federal solution in Cyprus and alleged that even in the declaration prepared for the establishment of the "TRNC", they included an article which does not reject "a federal partnership".

Eroglu said that he had informed President Anastasiades that he wants the negotiations, which most probably will recommence in October, to continue with a time limit.

Eroglu alleged that if the foreign journalists saw the "realities" and write them down when they return to their countries, they would be influential on the issue of the Greek Cypriots' "being brought to the negotiating table".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Yildiz: Barbaros seismic research vessel will conduct seismic research around the south part of occupied Cyprus

This will be the first research zone of the vessel.

Y1
ld1
z informed that the plan is to conduct seismic research around Cyprus's waters in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus, across an area of 10 thousand 500 km.

[05] Self-styled deputy speaker briefed foreign journalists on the "effect of the search for natural gas, on Cyprus talks"

According to the paper, Yektaoglu accused the Greek Cypriot side of unilaterally conducting all the international agreement's since 1963 and alleged that this has damaged the Cyprus negotiations. He also claimed that the agreement regarding natural gas is an example of this.

Yektaoglu also stated that an agreement will strengthen the cooperation and the peace between the two "people" in Cyprus and added that their vision is cooperation and peace in Middle East. He also added that in the coming 5-6 years the income of the natural gas will stimulate the solution of the Cyprus problem, adding that energy must not be used for fighting in politics, but as a contribution to peace. He also said that both "people" in Cyprus should benefit from natural gas.

[06] Atalay and Cicek to illegally visit the occupied Cyprus for Turkish invasion's celebrations

According to the paper, Atalay will arrive in occupied Cyprus today in the afternoon, while Cicek will arrive tomorrow morning.

[07] Pollution reaches the coasts of occupied Vokolida; Self-styled minister says the leak was over 100 tons

Meanwhile, the supply of water from the desalination plant in Vokolida stopped due to the fear of possible pollution of the underground sources from the oil. According to the paper, water is supplied with tankers to the inhabitants of the area.

Pointing out that fear and concern prevails in the area, Halkin Sesi publishes statements by the self-styled mayor of occupied Galatia who said that 95% of the tourism of the area was influenced by the disaster and added that absolutely no tourist remained.

Moreover, the teams of the Turkish SEAGULL firm, which will clean the oil and four containers (TIR) of equipment, have come from Turkey. The 100-member-teams started working yesterday morning.

Self-styled minister of tourism, environment and culture, Mehmet Harmanci noted that the rough dirt of the oil, which has been spread to an area of seven kilometres, will be cleaned within 7-10 days.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (19.07.13) reports that Harmanci said also that the leak was over 100 tons. According to the paper, the disaster is greater than expected and the sea of occupied Famagusta has been closed to the people for this year.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (19.07.13) reports that Dr. Nurcin Arikbuka, responsible for the Unit on the Environment of the Turkish Cypriot Physicians Union, said that people and especially children and pregnant women should refraining from entering into the sea until the water of the area is analysed and it is reported as clean.

Noting that 72 hours passed from the disaster, the paper writes that the equipment which should have come from Turkey delayed.

(I/Ts.)

[08] TMT's letter to UNSG demanding recognition of the breakaway regime "TRNC"

The TMT association, headed by Y1
lmaz Bora, handed the letter to the UNFICYP official at the Ledra Palace checkpoint on Thursday to be delivered to the UN Chief Ban Ki Moon.

Speaking there, Bora claimed that "Turkish Cypriots, who have been living in peace under the roof of their own state, no longer see the necessity to live together with Greek Cypriots in a united Cyprus", adding that "the Cyprus problem can be solved with the recognition of the TRNC as a separate state".

In the letter, Bora criticized "the international community for treating the Greek Cypriot administration as the so-called Cyprus Republic at the expense of the vested rights of the Turkish Cypriots". He concluded: "No one should expect the Turkish Cypriot side to wait another half a century for the Greek Cypriot side to develop the necessary will for a solution."

[09] Ankara says won't tolerate PYD's fait accompli in northern Syria

The PYD has been fighting against opposition fighters in northern Syria for months in an effort to gain an advantage and declare autonomy in a nation rocked by a war between President Bashar al-Assad's regime forces and opposition groups. The PYD seized control of the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain -- very close to Turkey's Ceylanp1
nar district of ^
anl1
urfa -- which heightened Ankara's fears that the emergence of an autonomous Kurdish region in Syria could embolden home-grown militants of the PKK, which is fighting for autonomy in Turkey. Just days before, the PYD declared that it would establish autonomy in northern Syrian on July 19.

Turkish experts: PYD's declaration part of bigger plan

Experts say an autonomous Kurdish region in northern Syrian is the second piece in a four-part puzzle of a "Kurdistan country," just as it was drawn in a map published by the English Financial Times in 1983 -- the years when PKK was newly emerging. That map, which depicts potential borders of the Middle East in 2010, show a big Kurdish country separated into four pieces -- one in northern Iraq, one in northern Syria, one in Iran and the last in Turkey's southeast. There is already an autonomous administration in northern Iraq and now another autonomous region is emerging in northern Syria.

Adnan Tanr1
verdi, a retired senior general, told Today's Zaman that Turkey might be the next destination for this plan, adding that it should support the opposition groups in Syria against the PYD forces. Tanr1
verdi said Turkey has to strengthen the opposition forces by providing weapons, money and logistic support, adding that "Although it will be a long-term process, what the PYD has done is a clear step towards a new country."

Professor Mesut Hakk1
Ca
1
n from Yeditepe University told Today's Zaman that al-Assad left Ras al-Ain to the PYD. He said, "According to UN decisions, Turkey has the right to conduct cross-border 'hot pursuit' operations in Syria if terrorist activity near its borders is detected." He has heard claims that PKK terrorists, who are withdrawing from Turkish lands as part of an ongoing settlement process launched by the Turkish government in 2012 to end its Kurdish problem, are joining PYD forces in northern Syria and believes this is a clear threat to Turkey's national security.

Retired Maj. Yakup Evirgen, who is also an expert on defence issues, said in an interview with Today's Zaman that the aim of the PYD in its recent move, is to make Turkey's foreign policies in Syria ineffective and to strengthen the PKK's hand in the settlement process. Evirgen said that the PYD, by declaring autonomy in Syria, is trying to put the Turkish government under pressure to move forward in the settlement process.

[10] Erdogan defends Egypt and Syria stance, criticizes EU at Ambassadors' iftar dinner

Touching on several foreign and domestic issues, Erdo
an also said the recent criticism of the government was "saddening," adding that any analysis not taking Turkey's past into account would be "

"Turkey's foreign policy is not based on interests but values. We have always acted in Syria, in Iraq, in Libya and in Tunisia [in light of] these values," Erdo
an said in his address during the AKP's 6th iftar dinner for ambassadors in Ankara July 18.

"As a country that paid heavy prices in its struggle for democracy, we don't want the Egyptians, whom we see as our brothers, to [pass through] the same suffering. We would have shown the same position if the coup targeted the opposition and not [deposed President Mohamed] Morsi," Erdo
an said, denying that Turkey was intruding in Egypt's internal politics.

Regarding Syria, Erdo
an dismissed criticisms that the government's policy was based on favouring one religious confession over another. "Favouring a confession has never been part of Turkey's state traditions, and it won't become part of it now. The close relationship with Syria before the crisis is the evidence [of it]. We are not against the current regime in Syria because they belong to one confession or another." He added that 100,000 people had died since the beginning of the uprising in Syria.

"We oppose them because they have put the future of all Syrians in danger. One hundred thousand people have died in Syria. This regime continues to kill. So, won't I call this regime a dictatorship? Won't I call it a murderer?"

Erdo
an also called on Iran, Russia and China to give support to a negotiation process. "They have a big responsibility to solve this problem. Otherwise, history will not forgive the deaths of 100,000 people and all those millions who live far from their country," he said.

Erdo
an also criticized the European Union's postponement of the opening of a new chapter in Turkey's accession negotiations to September, following Germany's objection after the government's heavy-handed response against the Gezi protests.

"Instead of opening and closing [chapters] they have now invented making a step forward and to say  We'll talk in three months.' There is no such perspective in the legal acquis, Erdo
an said, adding that the European Union fell in conflict with its own values.

"I invite EU countries to keep their agreements. Half-opening one chapter is considered as positive; but the process moves forward very slowly and the problem comes from the EU," he said. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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