Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-08-28

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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] Davutoglu described as "crime against humanity" the gas attack in Syria; He demanded a response by the international community

[02] Controversial statements over Turkey's Government's Syria mandate; AKP insists on the validity of the mandate; Opposition parties support the contrary

[03] Turkey sends letter to 45 countries about Syria, Egypt

[04] Iranian FM warns Turkey against possible intervention in Syria

[05] BDP opposes to Turkey's involvement in a possible Syria intervention

[06] Self-styled foreign ministry: Using British bases in Cyprus for attacking Syria is "unacceptable"; do not travel to Syria and Egypt

[07] Turkish Cypriot political parties oppose to a war in the Middle East and Cyprus; Reference to the issue by the Turkish Cypriot press

[08] Turkey's ties with Egypt deteriorated; Egypt's FEDCOC suspended ties with Turkey; statements by Egyptian FM

[09] PKK's Bayik warns the Turkish government that PKK is ready to launch a civil war if settlement process collapse

[10] Turkey's Yildiz comments on UAE firm's exit motives from a coal power plant project in Turkey

[11] New Turkish Ambassador appointed to the UN Office in Geneva

[12] Turkish columnist criticizes Turkey's foreign policy

[13] Turkish organization asks from the USA to accept the existence of "two states" in Cyprus

[14] Establishing a "government" in the occupied area of Cyprus is turned into a "daisy fortune"; Columnist: it will not be a long-living "government"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Davutoglu described as "crime against humanity" the gas attack in Syria; He demanded a response by the international community

The United States has faced growing calls for action in response to the August 21 attack. In the most forceful U.S. reaction yet, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday President Barack Obama believed there must be "accountability" for those who used chemical weapons.

Davutoglu said also the following: "This is a crime against humanity and a crime against humanity should not go unanswered, what needs to be done must be done." He said that like many states, Turkey blamed Bashar al-Assad's government for the attack. "Today, it is clear that the international community is faced with a test."

Davutoglu reiterated that Ankara's priority was for the U.N. Security Council to come to a united stance on Syria. He said previously, however, that Turkey would join any international coalition if such a consensus proved impossible.

Meanwhile, Davutoglu is set to pay a two-day visit August 27-28 to Saudi Arabia to discuss the ongoing crisis in the region.

The ongoing crisis in Syria and Egypt, as well as Turkey-Saudi Arabia relations, will be on Davutoglu's agenda during his meeting with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

(?)

[02] Controversial statements over Turkey's Government's Syria mandate; AKP insist on the validity of the mandate; Opposition parties support the contrary

An international effort to take military action against the Syrian regime gained momentum after Damascus attacked civilians with chemical weapons which left 1,300 people dead. The Turkish government declared its intention to join an international coalition and noted that it had received a mandate for military operations against Syria.

However, opposition parties such as the Republican People's (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) are arguing that the government needs a brand new mandate in order to participate in an anti-Syrian alliance.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Turkish media that the government had a strong mandate authorizing the Turkish army and its government to take necessary measures against threats from Syria. "However if events dictate different needs, we will ask the parliament for a mandate," Davutoglu said.

The government had received the Turkish Parliament's approval to take action against Damascus after a Syrian military missile which landed in Akcakale, in Hatay and killed 5 people in 2012.

The motion says: "The ongoing crisis in Syria affects stability and security in the region and now the escalating animosity affects our national security. The Syrian armed forces have been conducting assaults as part of military operations into Turkish land despite our several warnings and diplomatic overtures since September 20, 2012. This situation threatens our national security. In this respect, the need for taking precautions and acting quickly against any threats to Turkey has arisen. In the framework of the situation, under Article 92 of the Turkish Constitution, we kindly ask the Parliament to discuss a motion that authorizes the government for a year to send Turkish troops into foreign countries."

The motion was approved by the Turkish parliament on October 3rd, 2012.

[03] Turkey sends letter to 45 countries about Syria, Egypt

"The negative developments in both Syria and Egypt will not be encouraged by the inaction of the international community. There will be dangerous results of not displaying a joint and determined position against anti-democracy struggles," the letter said. "It is an urgent priority for the international community to determine a common position aiming at preserving human rights and freedoms for the latest developments in Egypt and Syria."

The letter also stated that the democratic process started in North Africa and the Middle East by the end of 2010 had made everyone in the world hopeful for the development of democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms. "It is certain that we, as elected representatives, will make a major contribution to the people in the Middle East for their struggle for democracy," it emphasised, adding: "Our Parliaments have a historic responsibility. We would like an order in which people are not discriminated against based on their religions, languages, races and sects, and have equal rights."

The letter said further the following: "The contribution that we will make for democratisation will pave the way for democratic regimes and our support will also secure long-term stability and peace in the region."

The US is one of the 45 countries, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE-PA), NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO-PA) and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) were among the 8 organizations.

The letter was also sent to Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament.

[04] Iranian FM warns Turkey against possible intervention in Syria

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Seyed Abbas Araqchi, asked during a weekly press conference in Tehran on Tuesday, advised the countries of the region and their "Turkish friends" to be "careful" about developments in Syria. "The entire region should keep vigilant and should not allow further spread of the crisis by indigested measures," Araqchi added.

[05] BDP opposes to Turkey's involvement in a possible Syria intervention

(?)

Buldan said that from the very beginning of the Syrian crisis, the party is against any foreign intervention into Syria, and added: "In case of any attack on Rojava [Kurdish name given to northern Syria] and other regions populated by Kurds in Syria, the Kurdish people would raise their voices. We are absolutely against such foreign intervention," she noted, stating that any Turkish involvement in such a scenario in Syria would not be supported by the BDP.

The BDP member joined a demonstration in the Nusaybin district of Mardin to protest the killing of Kurdish people in western Kurdistan.

"Our demonstrations are continuing everywhere. In the case of any attack on Syria, we would also keep up our demonstrations. We could start other type of activities to show our protest in the future [in the case of a foreign intervention in Syria,]" Buldan said, without specifying the nature of these activities.

Evaluating the possible position of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) -- a Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) offshoot that has a military presence in northern Syria -- regarding a foreign intervention, Buldan said that "the PYD would surely take a position that would be to the benefit of the Kurdish people in Syria. They would take steps that would protect their territorial acquisitions in the region."

The PYD is criticized for acting opportunistically to carve out an autonomous region in Syria during the escalating civil war between the Syrian regime and opposition. Some think the PYD has acquired control of western Kurdistan in an agreement with the Syrian regime, allowing the regime to concentrate its battle against the armed Syrian opposition around the interior provinces of Syria. The footsteps of a Western intervention into Syria are promising to show to what degree the PYD is involved itself with the Syrian regime.

[06] Self-styled foreign ministry: Using British bases in Cyprus for attacking Syria is "unacceptable"; do not travel to Syria and Egypt

In a written statement issued yesterday, the "ministry" said that the issue of using the British military bases in Cyprus in a possible intervention in Syria has come onto the agenda and argued that "it is not possible for us to accept the island's becoming a springboard in such initiatives, which bear the danger of further inciting the climate of conflict in the area". The statement expressed the view that in case a foreign intervention in Syria is absolutely necessary, the most correct approach would be for this intervention to be held under the UN umbrella within the framework of the international rules.

The "ministry" further suggested that the businessmen, who are currently evaluating business and investment possibilities in Egypt and Syria or are considering of establishing trade relations with these countries, should act cautiously being aware of the fact that these are a high risk areas.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Turkish Cypriot political parties oppose to a war in the Middle East and Cyprus; Reference to the issue by the Turkish Cypriot press

Arguing that "the outdated dictatorships" in the Middle East countries "were demolished" by millions of people's uprising with the demand of democracy and human rights during the "Arab Spring" the past years, Solyali argued: "The dominant countries and international actors are continuing to work having as target the Great Middle East Project in this geography in which our country Cyprus is also located. We are once more watching with concern that with today's drums of war, the British bases in Cyprus, which secured logistics support during the war in Afghanistan and were used in the war of Iraq and recently in the war in Libya, are at the stage of preparation for intervention".

Solyali said that they expected initiatives that would seriously show that "we are against any kind of action and effort which will bring war in our area and our country" and argued that this duty belongs to both the "local authorities" as well as to the EU and all guarantor powers in Cyprus.

Moreover, Kibris (28.08.13) reports that the spokesman of the Revolutionary Communist Union (DKB), Yusuf Alkim issued a statement yesterday saying that they oppose to the use of the British military bases in Cyprus for attacking Syria. Alkim made a call on all "progressive and democratic powers in the north and south parts of Cyprus" to struggle with the aim of preventing the use of these bases in the war. He noted that they are against the Assad regime in Syria, but they do not want this regime to be substituted by "reactionary forces".

Furthermore, Kibris (28.08.13) publishes a statement issued by Izzet Izcan, chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), who "strongly protested" against the "preparations of an imperialist military intervention in Syria" and noted that the BKP rejects the use of the territory of Cyprus for murdering "our brother Syrian people". Izcan called on the Republic of Cyprus not to allow the use of the British military bases in the military attack against Syria. He said that "all progressive, patriotic and pro-peace forces of Greek and Turkish Cypriots" should oppose to the military intervention in Syria and jointly struggle for the British military bases' leaving the island. Izcan said that the BKP opposes to any imperialist intervention which will endanger Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (28.08.13) covers the issue under the banner front-page title "Assad could hit us as well!" Haberdar reports that the British newspaper "The Sun" wrote that the British military base in Akrotiri area is within the range of Assad's scud missiles. Haberdar publishes also statements by Turkish Cypriot experts in the field of international relations who also alleged that "Cyprus is among the areas which will be influenced the most by a war in Syria".

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (28.08.13) writes that the people living in occupied Rizokarpaso are worried because the distance between Syria and the occupied part of Cyprus is only 80 kilometers. However, Halid Hoca, the Syrian National Council's representative in Turkey, told the paper that the operation against Syria will aim at punishing the Assad regime for using chemical weapons and noted that there is no need for the people to be panicked. He said that only "point shots" will be made.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Turkey's ties with Egypt deteriorated; Egypt's FEDCOC suspended ties with Turkey; statements by Egyptian FM

The Federation chairman Ahmed al-Wakil in a statement on Tuesday said: "The FEDCOC announces the suspension of relations with the Turkish government until the Turkish Premier apologizes to the Egyptian people for insulting the imam of Al-Azhar,"

On Sunday, Erdogan criticized al-Tayeb for the latter's support of the "military coup" against elected president Mohamed Morsi. "History will curse the imam of Al-Azhar as it cursed religious intellectuals in Turkey before," Erdogan said.

"The FEDCOC condemns Erdogan's insult to a highly-esteemed religious and Islamic figure," al-Wakil said.

Al-Tayeb gave his blessing to an army-imposed roadmap by which Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected President, was ousted on July 3 after mass protests against his presidency.

Under the roadmap, the constitution was suspended and Adly Mansour, the head of constitutional court, was installed as interim president.

Turkish officials have denounced Morsi's ouster as a "military coup," with Erdogan insisting that Morsi remains Egypt's legitimate President.

The FEDCOC chairman said that Erdogan's behavior represented "not only an insult to Egypt, but to all Muslims around the world."

Al-Wakil urged the Federation of Turkish Chambers of Commerce to convey the Egyptian business community's displeasure to the Turkish government.

He said that such remarks by Turkish officials amounted to "interference" in Egypt's domestic affairs and threatened the two countries' mutual economic interests.

He went on to warn against taking bilateral relations to the point of "no-return," which, he said, would adversely affect Egypt-Turkey economic ties.

The FEDCOC boasts nearly four million members from Egypt's economic, trade and industrial sectors.

Meanwhile, according to Turkish website Worldbulletin.com (28.08.13) Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy insisted on Tuesday that relations with Turkey are "very important" for both countries and should be safeguarded despite "inappropriate criticism by Turkish officials".

Speaking at a press conference in Cairo, Egypt's FM said: "The current disputes are not with the Turkish people, but with some Turkish politicians, particularly Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu".

He said that "Turkey has crossed the limits of what is acceptable for Egypt, but we are confident that relations will be good on the long run."

The top diplomat insisted that "some countries, particularly Turkey, have taken ideological positions against the Egyptian government and these stances are totally rejected".

(?)

Separately, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that it had rejected a Turkish request to increase the number of diplomats serving in its embassy in Cairo. "This is part of a series of measures recently taken by Egypt in response to stances and statements made by Turkish officials," the Ministry said in a statement.

The Foreign Ministry said that the Turkish statements "amount to a brazen interference in Egypt's domestic affairs and affront to Egypt."

[09] PKK's Bayik warns the Turkish government that PKK is ready to launch a civil war if settlement process collapse

In a recent interview with the BBC's Turkish service, Bayik said that the cease-fire between Turkey and the terrorist group will be broken if the Turkish government fails to take action by September 1.

"We know that the AK Party [Justice and Development Party] is preparing for a big war. ? There is actually nothing like a settlement package, the [Turkish] government is just preparing for [the next] elections," the PKK leader told the BBC Turkish service, accusing the government of not being transparent.

The Kurdish Communities Union (KCK), a political umbrella organization that includes the PKK, also rattled its sabers on Monday, demanding that the Turkish government take a step toward democratization in statements published online by the Fiat News Agency.

Delal Amed, a member of the People's Defense Forces (HPG), an armed wing of the PKK, told Fiat that "if the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government does not take a step in the coming days and brings the settlement process to a deadlock, we are ready to get into a war position again and to take the matter effectively into our hands."

(& ) Also, Columnist Gultekin Avc1
wrote in Bugun daily in two columns on August 22 and 26, about the war threat, after talking to sources in the south-eastern province of Sirnak, that the PKK is preparing to launch a civil war in Turkey.

In remarks to Today's Zaman, Avc1
said: "I don't intend to mar the settlement process, but these are certain facts, not allegations. If you go to the south-eastern region, you can ask anyone in public. They are aware of the preparations."

Avc1
said that if the settlement process fails, the Turkish security forces will have a hard time fighting the PKK because many militants have now moved from the mountains and settled among civilians in the provinces.

According to Avc1
, Prime Minister Erdogan's recent statement that 20% of PKK members had withdrawn from the country was an optimistic guess. He said that the residents in the region believe that less than 10% of the militants have left Turkish soil.

(?)

The government says that less than 20% of PKK members have withdrawn. Bayik said the withdrawal is ongoing, adding that it is meaningless to give an exact percentage. Bayik also said that the number of young people joining the ranks of the PKK is on the rise.

At the beginning of the year, the total number of PKK terrorists was estimated to be around 5,000, but the PKK has succeeded in recruiting perhaps more than 2,000 young Kurds over the last few months, according to recent media reports.

"PKK terrorism" is a problem that Turkey has been struggling with for almost 30 years now. Around 40,000 people have been killed since 1984, the year the terrorist organization started its attacks.

Altan Tan, a Diyarbakir Deputy for the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and a member of the Constitutional Reconciliation Commission, claimed that the government had secretly promised the Kurds general amnesty, which would pave the way for the release from jail of PKK and Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) members and Ergenekon coup plot suspects.

Tan, speaking to reporters in the south-eastern province of Diyarbakir, claimed that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had promised to issue general amnesty in exchange for the Kurds' support in the local elections in March 2014, the Presidential elections in August 2014 and the general elections in 2015.

Calling such an arrangement "unethical," Tan noted that these allegations are now being mentioned by many columnists.

Tan stated that the government signalled this with the sentencing by a court of former Chief General Staff Gen. 0
lker Basbug to life imprisonment in the Ergenekon coup plot trial on charges of leading a "terrorist organization," just as PKK leader Ocalan had been.

On the other hand, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc denied while on a television program on Tuesday the allegations that general amnesty had been offered. He said that general amnesty was definitely not on the government's agenda and had not been mentioned by any mediators who held talks with Ocalan.

Arinc also stated that the government has been working very hard on the settlement process since its launch.

Describing Ocalan as a strategic actor in the settlement process, Arinc said that if he succeeds, a key issue for the country will be solved.

(?)

Arinc also said that not all PKK members have withdrawn from Turkish soil yet, referring to Prime Minister Erdogan's recent statement that only 20% of the militants have left the country.

With respect to a large Kurdish congress scheduled to be held in Iraqi Kurdistan's province of Arbil in September, Arinc said that neither the Turkish government nor the AK Party will attend.

(?).

[10] Turkey's Yildiz comments on UAE firm's exit motives from a coal power plant project in Turkey

"I wish that TAQA [Abu Dhabi National Energy] company's choices weren't based on political reasons," Energy Minister told reporters, commenting on several media reports that have claimed that TAQA, the state-owned oil explorer and power supplier, may exit the $12-billion energy project.

"It seems like the latest incidents in Egypt and Syria have put TAQA in a position to make choices about its energy investments from its perspective," Y1
ld1
z said.

Even though the company said that the main reason behind the decision was economic, there are some reports saying that there may be some political motives as the two governments' views about the latest developments in Egypt are in opposition to each other. While the UAE maintains support for the Egyptian army, the Turkish government condemns Morsi's removal as a coup against a democratically elected president.

Yesterday, Turkey Director of TAQA, Ozgur Ulgin, said that the project was only delayed, denying the withdrawal claims.

Y1
ld1
z didn't clarify the latest decision of TAQA, but said either way the Turkish government had already begun to seek other options.

"There is always B or C option. We will stand firm with our decision, whether TAQA will decide to delay investment in Af
in-Elbistan basin or will go ahead with it. We have started to talk with other countries," he said.

Turkey's state-owned Electricity Generation Co (E?AS) and TAQA agreed in January on a project worth up to $12 billion to build several power plants using the lignite coal reserves of Turkey's Afsin-Elbistan region.

After the intergovernmental agreement had been made in January, some progress was seen on the way to establish a partnership scheme. While 35% of the project was given to E?AS, the remaining 65% was held by the TAQA.

The Afsin-Elbistan region holds about 40% of Turkey's lignite and could provide up to 8,000 megawatts of power production capacity in southeast Turkey, if the coal potential is fully exploited, according to the Turkish Energy ministry.

[11] New Turkish Ambassador appointed to the UN Office in Geneva

A statement from the Geneva office said that Ambassador Carikci had held the position of Ambassador and Senior Foreign Policy Adviser to the President of Turkey, a role he assumed in 2007, before being promoted to the position of senior advisor in 2010.

Ambassador Carikci had previously been posted to governments in the West and the Middle East, including Germany, the US, Iran and Iraq.

Carikci replaces Ambassador Mustafa Oguz Demiralp as Turkey's Permanent Representative at the UN Geneva office.

[12] Turkish columnist criticizes Turkey's foreign policy

"The negative effects of the government's foreign policy have started to become more apparent on the economy. This effect is both growing and taking on a multifaceted situation.

First of all, it is already known that the developments in the global economy are posing a threat to developing countries like Turkey. As it became clear that the U.S. Federal Reserve would cut down on the liquidity by bond purchasing to the market, even the timing of this creates serious fluctuations.

It is being accepted that among all developing countries, ones like Turkey with low savings rates and high current account deficit will be most affected by the process. Apart from this natural effect, the fact that the prime minister's approval is being sought for decisions made by the economic administration means a belief that "the necessary decisions will not be taken in this critical process" has particularly been formed among foreigners. The government's police-like surveillance practice on banking and capital markets, which targets market players and operations, is another element raising worries. In short, along with the developments in the global economy, the government's wrong decisions have played a serious role in the deterioration of the economy. While the process is so compelling and the economic decisions so wrong, the destruction in the economy is being widened by the wrong decisions made in domestic and foreign policies.

Turkey's foreign policy, which has led it to be on the opposite sides with the West - first in Syria and then in Egypt - and also with the regional states, has led to Turkey standing alone in the international arena. Separately, this loneliness and contradiction with the West, which holds the capital, is further deterring the foreign investment that is needed.

It does not slip one's eye that the effects on the economy of developments in foreign policy have become more concrete lately.

Besides halting exports to Egypt after interrupting trade with Syria, jeopardizing the export to the region through Egypt, leads to a rise in the problems encountered on exports. It is for sure that the loss of these markets affect the total export and production negatively, which is already in dire straits. It is also estimated that these markets will not be regained in at least two to three years' time.

The UAE has halted investments

Lastly, it has also become noticeable that Gulf capital, which had previously supported this government, has started to approach Turkey in an unfavorable manner because of the foreign policy it is implementing. The TAQA Company, of which the Abu Dhabi state controls 75%, has decided to postpone its investment in the Afsin-Elbistan power station. With its 12 billion dollars budget, this investment was among the biggest investments of Turkey. It is clear that this attitude is because of Turkey's stance towards the latest developments in Egypt. Turkish Energy Minister Taner Y1
ld1
z confirmed this, saying "we would not accept them even if they came," but this giant investment holds a critical importance for the revival of the economy and the security of Turkey's energy supply.

Let us not forget that the foreign policy bill will be stuck to the people in every field".

[13] Turkish organization asks from the USA to accept the existence of "two states" in Cyprus

According to a statement, Atasoy argued the following: "The United States should support the struggle of northern Cyprus people for independence. The embargoes implemented on the TRNC should be lifted. The USA should accept that there are two communities and to states on the island of Cyprus".

(I/Ts.)

[14] Establishing a "government" in the occupied area of Cyprus is turned into a "daisy fortune"; Columnist: it will not be a long-living "government"

The CTP-BG is expected to announce its decision tonight. According to the paper, the CTP-BG made a move yesterday by proposing to give the "ministry of interior" to the DP-UG, but leaving out the "citizenships". Noting that the bargaining will continue today, Ortam points out that both the DP-UG and the UBP were satisfied with the results of their meetings with the CTP-BG.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (28.08.13), mouthpiece of the CTP-BG, reports that the "ice" between CTP-BG and DP-UG melted to a great extend during the "surprising" meeting held last night between delegations headed by their chairmen, Ozkan Yorgancioglu and Serdar Denktas respectively. The paper writes that the two parties have "agreed to an important extent" for establishing a "coalition government". The paper goes on and says that the target is to submit the new "government" to Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu tomorrow or on Friday the latest, if the councils of the parties approve this agreement tonight.

Yorgancioglu said that they discussed the issues in depth and achieved some progress, but "we could not yet take a result". "I hope that there is a result by tomorrow", he added. Denktas said that "certain convergences" were achieved, but there was no conclusion.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (28.08.13) reports that the problem which existed last week between the CTP-BG and the DP-UG on the issue of the "ministries" of interior and finance was overcome yesterday. The paper writes that the two parties overcame their disagreement on the Cyprus problem as well.

Commenting on the issue in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (28.08.13), Bilbay Eminoglu reports, inter alia, the following: "?I am not very curious on the final decision which the CTP-BG will announce today on the issue of party with which it will establish a government. I know that either it is established with the DP-UG or with the UBP, the government will not be sound and long-living. There is another thing: They might return the duty, even though this seems to be a distant possibility?"

(I/Ts.) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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