Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-06-23

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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] Akinci on the developments regarding the fire on Troodos Mountains

[02] Cavusoglu alleges that the Greek Cypriots "misused" Turkey's offer for help in the fire on Troodos Mountains

[03] Turkes accused the Greek Cypriot side of letting politics get involved in Turkey's offer for assistance

[04] Veysel Eroglu: "Greek Cypriots need to get permission from Church to accept Turkish aid"

[05] Reactions to the developments regarding the fire on Troodos Mountains

[06] Cavusoglu: "The TRNC should be strong"

[07] Ertugruloglu: "We should not allow open ended negotiations"

[08] An "action plan" on tourism was signed between Turkey and the "TRNC"

[09] People's Party: "The economic protocol will not solve our problems"

[10] Atun said that they want to increase exports from 8% to 20%

[11] Erdogan: Turkey could hold UK-style referendum on stalled EU bid

[12] Ball in Israel's court, Hamas not an issue: Turkish FM

[13] Sabah reports that Chapter 33 to open on June 30

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci on the developments regarding the fire on Troodos Mountains

He alleged: "In front of such a big tragedy it has no meaning for me where these vehicles will land and from where they will take off, how they will be coordinated and what this means politically. [?] Unfortunately, the fire continued and expanded until Tuesday. Meanwhile, help from the EU was asked. In an environment in which the fire could not be controlled, I called three times Mr Anastasiades, insistently stressing that we should leave aside the political arguments in order to be able to save the forests together and that he should see this issue as a humanitarian one and break the molds".

Akinci said that after the Greek Cypriots rejected the firefighting helicopters and the airplane from Turkey landing in illegal Tymbou airport, the Turkish Cypriots suggested that they could land at occupied Krini and Morfou areas and that they could take water from occupied Morfou Bay, which is the closest sea to the area.

Akinci argued that after their last telephone conversation with President Anastasiades no one called him and that he found out about the Republic of Cyprus' decision through the press. He expressed sorrow because the place of landing of the helicopters and the sea from which they would be taking water has allegedly been used politically and the issue was not approached focusing on the geographic proximity to the fire and effectiveness of the efforts.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Cavusoglu alleges that the Greek Cypriots "misused" Turkey's offer for help in the fire on Troodos Mountains

Responding to a question on the issue during a joint press conference yesterday in Ankara with the self-styled foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu, Cavusoglu claimed: "They are trying to make the Turkish planes and helicopters land in the Greek Cypriot side. This is not something which we could accept. I am saying this to the Greek Cypriot sector: at least do not misuse even such humanitarian issues, do not try to drag them elsewhere".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Turkes accused the Greek Cypriot side of letting politics get involved in Turkey's offer for assistance

He made these statements during a meeting he held with the self-styled minister of public works and transportation Kemal Durust who is currently visiting Ankara.

Turkes accused the Greek Cypriots of showing their "carelessness" for one more time. They could accept help from Turkey but they would let politics get involved discussing if the water used was coming from the north or the south, he alleged and added: " I just hope that they will get their head together the sooner possible so that all these issues get under control".

(CS)

[04] Veysel Eroglu: "Greek Cypriots need to get permission from Church to accept Turkish aid"

Eroglu stated the following: "When south Cyprus was left without water, we said 'we would give you water, we will give you oil'. The priests there said: 'It is not permissible to use the water or the fuel of a Turk'. They cannot do these jobs without asking the priests; but if they get permission from them we will go and try to extinguish the fire. Otherwise they will be burned out completely", he stated.

(CS)

[05] Reactions to the developments regarding the fire on Troodos Mountains

Recalling that help from Israel and Greece came for extinguishing the fire, Oguz claimed: "Let us help also, we said. They did not accept our help. I am leaving to the people to comment on the stance of the Greek Cypriots, who want peace here on the island. Those who watch this incident will confirm that the Greek Cypriots are sitting at the negotiating table insincerely and falsely".

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (23.06.16) refers to the developments under the title "Blow by the fire to the solution" and writes that "the Greek Cypriots' conditioned acceptance of Turkey's offer for help was left in suspense". "Turkey on the one hand rejected it and on the other heavily accused the Greek Cypriots", notes Afrika and publishes the statements made yesterday by Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot Affairs, Tugrul Turkes and Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci.

Under the title "Quarrel for sovereignty", Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (23.06.16) reports that Turkey's proposal for help was prevented by the Cyprus problem and crashed on the "wall of sovereignty".

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (23.06.16) refers to the issue under the title "Turkey did not abandon its 'official position'; It did not land in Larnaka".

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.06.16) refers to the developments under the title "Rejection by Turkey to the conditioned demand".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Cavusoglu: "The TRNC should be strong"

"Whether there is a solution or not, the TRNC must be very well prepared for the future, must be strong. Therefore it is useful to both increase the financial aid and continue the reforms. We are seeing this determination in the current government. The project of the century which we materialized in the TRNC, the project of providing water, should reach its end. The water should effectively reach the Turkish Cypriot people. We agree on this issue also. We have thoroughly discussed all these issues".

Noting that he will soon visit the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Cavusoglu alleged that they wish a solution to the Cyprus problem to be reached by the end of this year and claimed that "no excuse remained any more for the Greek Cypriots", because the parliamentary elections have ended. "Meetings between the leaders and the negotiators should take place more often", he noted.

Replying to a question, Cavusoglu recalled that the leaders launched the procedure for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem by issuing a joint declaration and argued that they wish for a "lasting and just solution based on the political equality and bi-zonality". "The procedure is carried out under the auspices of the UN", he said claiming that it is "totally natural for the community leaders to meet with the UNSG".

Cavusoglu alleged that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are not responsible for the delay in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and that one of the reasons of the delay is what he called as "unilateral steps taken by the Greek Cypriots" on the natural gas issue and the withdrawal of the Greek Cypriot side from the negotiating table after "our reply". He claimed that the Turkish Cypriots have rights on Cyprus' natural gas and oil resources and that the decision of how the income from these resources will be spent should be taken jointly and not unilaterally.

Cavusoglu said that the number of the breakaway regime's "representations offices" abroad has been increased, but this is not enough. He noted that Turkey will continue providing any support it can for making these "representation offices" active. He also said that they are working on strengthening the infrastructure of the breakaway regime's "ministry" of foreign affairs.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Ertugruloglu: "We should not allow open ended negotiations"

In statements yesterday in Ankara during a joint press conference with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu, Ertugruloglu expressed the view that it is not possible to reach a result in the negotiations as long as "the Greek Cypriot side is recognized as the Republic of Cyprus, the identity of the Turkish Cypriots is rejected and the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot people is rejected".

Ertugruloglu alleged that the Greek Cypriots do not want a solution and wished for them to see and accept one day that Cyprus is not a Greek island.

Asked to comment on the reactions in the Greek Cypriot community to the statements made by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides as regards the use of the income from the natural gas in financing the solution of the Cyprus problem, Ertugruloglu claimed that these reactions show the mentality of the Greek Cypriot side and that the Greek Cypriots approach the issue as if they are the only ones who have rights on the natural gas and the Turkish Cypriots have no say on this issue.

(I/Ts.)

[08] An "action plan" on tourism was signed between Turkey and the "TRNC"

The "action plan" envisages the development of the cooperation between Turkey and the "TRNC" (translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) on the issues of planning, promoting, technical support, education and other issues related to tourism. Within the framework of the "action plan", "promotion activities" will be organized in Germany, Britain and in 10 districts in Turkey.

According to the signed "action plan", works will launch in order for the "TRNC" to receive services under the same conditions from the public relations companies that the Turkish Foreign Ministry cooperates with, and technical support will be offered to the "TRNC" during the tourist fairs.

The paper also reports that the "action plan" reads that a technical support for promoting the "TRNC" in the markets of Britain, the Gulf countries, Azerbaijan and Iran will be given.

Turkish Minister Avci, speaking to the press after the signing ceremony, said that he believes that this "action plan" will take further the relations of Turkey and the "TRNC" on the tourism field.

Meanwhile, Ataoglu, for his part, said that direct flights from the occupied airport of Tymbou to Bursa and Eskisehir will launch, adding that there is no doubt that Turkey is always next to the Turkish Cypriot "people".

(DPs)

[09] People's Party: "The economic protocol will not solve our problems"

(DPs)

[10] Atun said that they want to increase exports from 8% to 20%

During the meeting, Atun stated that the development of industry in the breakaway regime is their main goal and added that they will exert efforts for a sustainable economy. He went on and added that they want to increase exports up to 20% from 8% and added that efforts are made towards this direction.

(CS)

[11] Erdogan: Turkey could hold UK-style referendum on stalled EU bid

Angrily lashing out at the bloc's treatment of Ankara, Erdogan said that Turkey could hold a referendum along the lines of that in Britain, where voters are deciding on June 23 whether to stay in the European Union or leave. "We can stand up and ask the people just like the British are doing", Erdogan said in a speech late June 22 at a fast-breaking dinner, quoted by the state-run Anadolu Agency.

"We would ask, 'Should we continue the negotiations with the European Union or should we end them?' If the people say 'continue,' then we would carry on", Erdogan said.

He accused the EU of not wanting to accept Turkey as a member as it is a "Muslim-majority country."

Erdogan said that Turkey had been promised membership in 1963 but that nothing had happened despite the passage of 53 years. "Why are you stalling?" he asked.

With the question of Turkey's possible membership being raised in the British referendum, Ankara has been angered by comments from London suggesting that it has no realistic chance of joining the bloc in the medium term. During the campaign, Prime Minister David Cameron said Turkish membership was not "remotely on the cards" and may not happen until the year 3000.

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (22.06.16) reports that Erdogan also criticized European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday following the latter's remarks that Erdogan would need to make an explanation to the Turks if a visa-liberalization deal fails.

In an interview published earlier on Wednesday in German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Juncker said that visa requirements for Turkish citizens traveling to the EU could only be lifted if Turkey fulfilled the refugee agreement with the EU plus all other required conditions. "If Turkey meets all of the 72 conditions for lifting the visa requirement, which we have formulated together, then there will be no reason to refuse their citizens visa-free travel", Juncker reportedly said. "However, if Mr Erdogan seriously tries to break the agreement, then it will be his job to tell the Turks why they cannot enjoy visa-free travel to Europe," he added.

Speaking at a commencement ceremony at the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University in Istanbul, Erdogan accused Juncker of "not knowing" the Turks.

"You do not know the Turkish nation at all. These people are not after visa-free travel. It is you who are concerned about what might happen if Turkey opens its doors and all refugees walk towards Europe", he retorted.

"And they are in a stew. When 60,000 people gathered in [border province] Edirne, they got very anxious, and started wondering about whether all those people would cross into Bulgaria or Greece," he said.

"But in the meantime we are hosting three million refugees. Why? Because we care about people, unlike you. You have no such concerns. All this readmission agreement and other stuff just show how untrustworthy you all are. You are not keeping your promise.

"And this is your ugly face. Then you get mad when Erdogan shows your ugly face [to the world]. And that is why you are trying to get rid of Erdogan," he added.

The President also accused the European Union of not accepting Turkey as a member "because it is a Muslim-majority country". "You cannot prove otherwise. A former French Foreign Minister once said this to me in very clear terms: 'They won't get you in the EU. You are trying in vain,' he said. When I asked why, he said it was because we were Muslims."

[12] Ball in Israel's court, Hamas not an issue: Turkish FM

"Whether a balance is to be struck or not in the first next meeting ? this depends on the steps that Israel will take. Our conditions are extremely plain, these [conditions] need to be fulfilled, like how our demand for an apology was fulfilled," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said June 22 at a press conference in Ankara alongside visiting self-styled foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu.

"Our Palestinian brothers living there are living under extremely difficult conditions," Cavusoglu said, referring to Gaza.

"There are electricity and water problems. Israel has unfortunately bombed many schools and hospital infrastructure, these need to be rebuilt. Humanitarian aid and development aid need to be transported to Gaza and Palestine without any obstruction. We are discussing all of these matters in a detailed way," he said.

Cavusoglu argued that he does not think there is "a problem concerning Hamas".

"Our discussions with Hamas were never a secret from the very beginning. Suggestions we have made to Hamas leaders are also not a secret. On one side, we are trying to make a contribution to the Middle East peace process. We know that we haven't been able to make this contribution adequately because our relations with Israel went off track. But everybody who has been paying attention to the Middle East issue, all of the countries and Israel, today acknowledge that there can be no permanent peace or solution without Hamas", he said.

"Therefore, from now on, our contacts will continue in the context of the [importance] of the unity of Hamas and Fatah in Palestine and in the context of making contribution to the Middle East peace process. Countries that reacted to us on this subject when we first contacted Hamas after they won the elections, even Israel, have greatly understood what we want to do. That's why there is no condition called 'Hamas' in order to normalize our relations with Israel," he added.

[13] Sabah reports that Chapter 33 to open on June 30

EU diplomats confirmed on Thursday that lower-level officials would meet to open Chapter 33, which is a series of talks on "financial and budgetary provisions" that Turkey needs to meet in order to become a member.

Chapter 33 will be the sixteenth chapter Turkey opened since October 3, 2005 when it first launched membership negotiations.

The two sides were unable to agree on a date to discuss the chapter, Hurriyet daily reported. Accordingly, the EU and Turkey had agreed to discuss the matter during the Netherlands's term in the presidency of the Council of the EU, which would end on June 30.

Initially, the Netherlands proposed to meet on June 24, but Britain opposed it for its proximity to the Brexit referendum, which will take place on June 23. Turkey insisted that the meeting takes place before Slovakia's presidency of the Council of the EU, therefore both sides agreed on June 30. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/ ICh)

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