Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-05-27

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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] Yildirim to pay his first visit abroad in the occupied area of Cyprus

[02] Akinci: "Abandoning the negotiations is unacceptable"

[03] Akinci alleges that the Turkish Cypriots should have been able to participate in the UN's Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul

[04] "The limitation of the religious services has become official"

[05] Quarrel between Sahali and Ertugruloglu on the religious ceremony issue

[06] KTOS chairman accuses Akinci of becoming a tool in Erdogan's hands

[07] More on the settlers' new party

[08] Turkish Energy Ministry introduces Turkey's giant energy investment agenda

[09] First National Security Council meeting of new Turkish government held under Erdogan's presidency

[10] HDP, CHP MPs appeal to annul bill scrapping immunities

[11] Turkish columnist foresees problems with the EU with Erdogan in charge of policies

[12] The occupation regime was represented at the "SMIIC" general assembly

[13] The "mayor" of occupied Morfou due to Bosnia for a summit

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Yildirim to pay his first visit abroad in the occupied area of Cyprus

(AK)

[02] Akinci: "Abandoning the negotiations is unacceptable"

Expressing his sorrow for the postponement of the today's meeting between the leaders within the framework of the Cyprus negotiations, Akinci said:

"We have come close to the days during which we will discuss the issues of the territory and security. For this reason we should change the format of the negotiations. We should pass into a new format of negotiations in which we will discuss all these issues uninterruptedly for a week or ten days. And when we finish these chapters, in the very end, a five-party meeting will be needed in which the guarantor powers will also participate for concluding the chapters of the guarantees and security".

Noting that he had also met in the past with the UNSG in New York and Davos, Akinci reiterated: "It should be very well understood that the Turkish Cypriots cannot be squeezed only in the buffer zone in Nicosia. Our meetings with UN officials cannot be confined only to the buffer zone. [?] During our meeting with the UNSG in Istanbul we evaluated what could be done for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem by the end of the year".

Asked whether it is possible for the Greek Cypriot side to have withdrawn from the negotiations because it allegedly does not need a solution any more, Akinci replied that he does not want to think that this is possible, because the solution of the Cyprus problem is a procedure which requires mutual understanding, will and political determination and both sides will benefit from this together with the whole region. "The solution is possible only through dialogue", he said adding that time which passes works against the process and reiterating that the current opportunity is the last one for reaching a federal solution.

Furthermore, Akinci argued that as "president" of the Turkish Cypriots, his primary duty is to protect their rights and to simultaneously understand the "reasonable sensitivities" of the other community. He said that he expects the same by President Anastasiades, who has the duty to show empathy and put himself in the shoes of the Turkish Cypriots, who have allegedly been excluded from the Republic of Cyprus and want their rights in a new federal republic.

According to Akinci, the solution of the Cyprus problem will make a better economic structure possible in a "united federal country" and many new opportunities will be created between the new federal state and Turkey.

Replying to a question, Akinci said that the most fundamental thing which the Turkish Cypriots want is the political equality and they wish to live in safety as a free "people" without being threatened by any community. He noted that the Greek Cypriots want the same things, adding that freedom, equality and security are the most important issues.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Akinci alleges that the Turkish Cypriots should have been able to participate in the UN's Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul

Addressing a cocktail party of the "banking union" in the occupied area of the island, Akinci referred to the reactions to his recent visit to Istanbul to attend a dinner hosted by Turkish President Erdogan for the heads of states and governments within the framework of the Humanitarian Summit of the United Nations and to meet with the UNSG.

He said that until a certain point he understands the fact that the Greek Cypriots "raising a tempest in a teapot", but it is not possible for him to understand the criticism made in the Turkish Cypriot community. He alleged: "Our place as Turkish Cypriots was in that summit. We should be able to be in that summit".

Akinci reiterated the allegation of the Turkish side that the Turkish Cypriots have been excluded from the Republic of Cyprus for 53 years, that they are one of the equal partners of the Republic and that they cannot take the place they deserve. He alleged that it is not right for the leader of only the one community to represent the whole of Cyprus, that non-UN-members participated in the summit in Istanbul and that the "TRNC" could have participated even though it is not recognized.

Akinci recalled that President Erdogan has invited him to dinner as "president of the TRNC" and that he accepted the invitation. Noting that the events had been evaluated as an effort to upgrade the status of the breakaway regime and it was said that this cannot be allowed, Akinci claimed that they are pursuing what is "reasonable and achievable" and they know that this is a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution based on the political equality of two "founding states".

"No one except for us can decide to which invitation for dinner the president of the TRNC will reply positively, at which dinner he will attend and whether he will meet with the UNSG", he argued expressing his sorrow for the fact that the Greek Cypriots are allegedly "raising a tempest in a teapot".

(I/Ts.)

[04] "The limitation of the religious services has become official"

Ozgurgun alleged that the religious freedoms are respected in the "TRNC" within the framework of the understanding of a "secular state" and that the regime secures the necessary conditions for everyone exercising his religious duties.

Arguing that there has been a "serious and deliberate increase" in the demands made by Greek Cypriots for religious services in churches in the occupied area, Ozgurgun said that for this reason the "government" reexamined the process of granting "permit" for such services.

Noting that some churches have been turned into "political symbols", Ozgurgun alleged that "as long as the current non-solution exists the need for taking measures on these issues emerges". He claimed that this does not mean that the religious freedoms are limited and added that the arrangements were implemented because the religious freedoms have been used as a means for political exploitation.

Ozgurgun said that the new criteria according which "permit" for religious services in occupied churches will be granted are the following:

"The religious service to coincide with an important religious day, the physical situation of the church for which permit is asked to be at such level that the safety of the people is not threatened, the church is not used for any other purpose and the church is not located in a military zone".

Furthermore, Ozgurgun claimed that the regime has never exploited politically the limitations allegedly implemented by the Cyprus government to the exercise of the religious duties of "TRNC citizens" in the government-controlled area of the island and added that the issue "will take the place it deserves on the agenda" in case the practices against the "citizens" who cross over to the government-controlled area of Cyprus for religious purposes, the limitations at places of worship and the political initiatives continue.

He also described as "unacceptable" the correlation of the activity which the regime will organize in occupied Kokkina village with the issue of the religious services.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Quarrel between Sahali and Ertugruloglu on the religious ceremony issue

Sahalli said that they pay a great importance on the efforts exerted in the framework of the Cyprus negotiation process to implement the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs). He added that it is also very important the two communities to respect the religious and cultural activities of each other.

Commenting on the results of the parliamentary elections in the government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus and of the entrance of ELAM in Parliament with two seats; Sahalli said that every Cypriot who is a supporter of the solution should feel distress from this development.

Sahalli went on and asked which is the "official state policy" on the decision taken by the "minority government" in the "TRNC" towards the issue of the religious ceremonies.

Sahalli explained that the Greek Cypriots' applications to carry out religious ceremonies in the "north" in 2015 was 128 and 96 out of them had become accepted. He added that in 2016, 54 applications became accepted while 16 had been rejected. "A standard procedure should be followed on a technical level and a decision should be taken, taking into consideration these figures", Sahalli said.

He also stressed the need to fall backward the decision taken to implement criteria for the religious ceremonies which are taking place by Greek Cypriots in the "north" and described it as a negative step for the solution.

Sahali expressed the hope that concrete criteria will be taken into account in order for a decision to be taken and condemned the so-called foreign ministry for his decision.

Meanwhile, delivering a speech in the so-called assembly, "foreign minister" Tahsin Ertugruloglu replied to Sahali' statements and said: "There is a perception that every request coming for religious ceremonies in the TRNC was accepted previously, but Ertugruloglu has come on duty and he refused these requests. I disagree with such perceptions".

Ertugruloglu explained that a remarkable increase was observed on the number of request for religious ceremonies and claimed that the decision was taken in order to discipline these ceremonies. "We are not trying to prevent the religious ceremonies", Ertugruloglu alleged.

He further claimed that they will not allow the issue to be reflected as if they are trying to take away the Greek Cypriots' rights to their religious ceremonies.

(AK)

[06] KTOS chairman accuses Akinci of becoming a tool in Erdogan's hands

Elcil who issued a written statement said that Erdogan in provocative way intents to create a crisis in the Cyprus talks and accused him of revealing Turkey's separatist policy in Cyprus.

Moreover Elcil also accused the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci of becoming a tool in the hands of Erdogan noting that Akinci should not be an organ to Turkey's racist and separatist dreams for Cyprus.

(CS)

[07] More on the settlers' new party

Arikli was commenting on statements that the new party is dangerous and pro separatist. Arikli stated that despite the fact that the settlers consist of the 30-40% of the population in the breakaway regime, they are represented with only two "deputies" in the "assembly". He also said that there are parties that do not believe in the "TRNC" and no one accuses them for aiming to hurt the "state", but when the settlers try to establish a party, there is a reaction by everyone. "Yes, we are dangerous. We are dangerous for the system and dangerous for the parties that are fed by the system", he claimed.

(CS)

[08] Turkish Energy Ministry introduces Turkey's giant energy investment agenda

The main topics of the projects include concrete steps that will facilitate the construction of nuclear power plants, and the maximization of domestic and recyclable energy resources, and they will also be used in the production of nuclear power.

Accordingly, concrete steps will be taken in nuclear power. In addition to the agreements that were signed regarding the construction of two nuclear power plants - the 4,800 megawatt plant in Akkuyu and the 4,480 MW plant in Sinop, the construction of an additional third power plant will also kick off during this period.

[09] First National Security Council meeting of new Turkish government held under Erdogan's presidency

The statement released after the first MGK meeting of the 65th government, says that it was also attended by newly appointed Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m, and the issues concerning ensuring and maintaining public order, citizens' peace and safety were discussed comprehensively. The statement also emphasized that the "terror organization" (PKK) had failed to gain support from citizens living in southeastern Turkey and is far from representing any segment in society.

"The Council also underlined that European countries' decision to allow PKK's Syrian affiliate Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed People's Protection Units (YPG) to open branches in Prague, Stockholm, Berlin and Paris gives courage to terrorists who have shed blood in Turkey. The statement added that Turkey expects those countries to reconsider the decision", writes the paper.

The MGK statement also said that the government was informed about the latest developments in the Middle East and North Africa, especially Syria, Iraq and Palestine. The statement also underscored the necessity of confidence building and deterrent measures to be taken by NATO for all members of the alliance, ahead of the NATO Summit to be held in Warsaw.

[10] HDP, CHP MPs appeal to annul bill scrapping immunities

Lawmakers from the two political parties issued appeals to the top court on an individual basis after the HDP's efforts to garner 110 lawmakers for a collective appeal failed due to CHP leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu's strong opposition.

[11] Turkish columnist foresees problems with the EU with Erdogan in charge of policies

"[?] In the process ahead Tayyip Erdogan will be Turkey's one and only face in terms of foreign policy and representation. Foreign policy will be done in the White Palace.

It is not a secret that the good ties that he had established with Europe have also been effective on the decision to remove Davutoglu from office. There are strong signs showing that Erdogan viewed this situation as a "plot" or an "operation" against himself.

As a result, just when the Turkey-Europe ties had stepped up, EU Minister Volkan Bozkir and the negotiation process were sacrificed together with Davutoglu.

With the exception of Volkan Bozkir who comes from the diplomatic field, Omer Celik is the only name in the ruling party who can be appointed EU Minister. There is no one else in the AKP's current parliamentary group who you can place at the same table with the Europeans. Celik is not a heavy conservative. Even though he is not very fluent in English, he has a liberal-intellectual style and he is very familiar with the codes of the Western world.

His advantage is his ability to speak to Erdogan with a sort of ease that Davutoglu has failed to do. Davutoglu chose "to go around" Erdogan, whereas Omer Celik can say directly to Erdogan's face "Let us do this in this manner."

His disadvantage, on the other hand, is that we have reached the end of the way in the Turkey-EU ties.

You should have no doubt that in the period ahead the ties with Europe will continue as "bilateral ties" between two power blocs, rather than a negotiation process. This is no linked only to the removal of Davutoglu from office or to the growing authoritarianism in Turkey.

The Europeans see that Ankara has entered an entirely different path. Look at the domestic problems that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing in her country because of the support she has extended to Erdogan. Look at the uproar in the European Parliament. If journalists are to be sent to prison, if the Kurdish problem is handled with reciprocal killings and destruction, if academics are to be targeted, and if an Islamic course is selected, it is impossible for the European countries to convince their public to accept such a Turkey. Period!

Therefore Erdogan's biggest difficulty in the period ahead will once again be his own image. We know that the President wants to conduct "official visits" to European countries. (Not just stopping by for attending a summit but an official protocol as a "state leader".) It is not a secret that he especially wants to visit the queen in England.

However Turkey has become a "poisonous" issue for Europe. The Europeans are running hither and thither from the idea of an official visit -- especially England and Germany. A European diplomat said: "After the incidents in Washington no one in Europe wants to host Erdogan. [?]"

[12] The occupation regime was represented at the "SMIIC" general assembly

The occupation regime was represented at the meeting by the "director" of the "trade department of the ministry of economy and energy", Nalan Nazli and also by Yudum Yorulmaz, member of the staff.

Participants from more than 64 countries attended the meeting, writes the paper.

(AK)

[13] The "mayor" of occupied Morfou due to Bosnia for a summit

According to a statement issued by the occupied Morfou "municipality", Ozcinar will attend the summit as the co-chairman of the Union of Turkic World Municipalities.

(AK) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS / AM)

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