Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-06-24

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci says the property issue will be discussed on 1 July

[02] Denktas on the Cyprus problem

[03] Turkish Cypriot politicians say Turkey should have accepted to help in Troodos fire on the Republic of Cyprus' terms

[04] Racism escalated in the occupied area after the Troodos fire; Experts say central coordination is of vital importance during fires

[05] No trained personnel for fire engines; fire extinguisher in the "TNRC" soon; a meeting on fire at Akinci's office

[06] Self-styled ministers' contacts in Turkey

[07] Azerbaijan delegation is visiting the breakaway regime

[08] Occupied Galateia "mayor" in Portugal to receive certification document for participation to "Cittaslow" movement

[09] Cavusoglu: Turkey may hold referendum over EU accession

[10] Turkey says visit by German politicians to Incirlik base 'not appropriate'

[11] HDP calls on international community for solidarity after campaigners' arrests

[12] Russia invites Turkey to economy meeting in Sochi

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci says the property issue will be discussed on 1 July

In statements yesterday in the occupied area following his meeting with President Anastasiades, Akinci noted that both sides believe that the convergences and the agreements reached until today are valid and that this was reaffirmed yesterday. He added, however, that this does not mean that discussion on these issues could not be held and convergences could not be improved. He pointed out that what is important is not changing the reached agreements and "not going backwards".

Referring to the property issue, Akinci said that in spite of the convergences, there are 3-4 issues on which disagreements still exist.

Referring to the chapter of the powers of the federal government, Akinci noted that three subchapters exist and that one of them is the federal powers themselves. Pointing out that power on issues such as education, health, culture and agriculture will belong to the two founding states, Akinci said that agreement had anyway existed on the federal powers and further convergences were achieved yesterday. He added that the issue would be overcome during the meetings of the negotiators.

Akinci noted that he told President Anastasiades that the Turkish Cypriots share the "pain of the Greek Cypriot people" caused by the fire on the Troodos Mountains and the death of two persons during that fire and expressed his sorrow for the fact that the communities could not cooperate even in front of such a big disaster.

"We underlined that this is not merely a disaster as far as forests and the environment are concerned and that it is evident that the disappointment it will cause in our communities and the blow on hope are very important", he argued.

Pointing out that the reason for all these is the Cyprus problem, Akinci said: "I felt the need to underline that this problem creates some political sensitivities which prevent cooperation between the two communities even during such big disasters and that such political obstacles should be overcome".

Akinci recalled that the two communities had established a "crisis committee" and added that they decided to discuss again how this committee will be activated in such cases of crisis and how the infrastructure for cooperation will be prepared in a manner acceptable by both sides.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Denktas on the Cyprus problem

He made these statements speaking at the 'assembly".

However, he stated that the "government" believed that the "TRNC" must be included in the solution's document. "If there is no TRNC then our vote will be negative", he stated. He also said that if the "government" saw a weakness as regards the issue of sovereignty and political equality of the Turkish Cypriot side, its stance towards both this document and the referendum would be negative.

He finally alleged that they realized that the Greek Cypriot side has no interest in a for solution and that its main aim is to dominate the Turkish Cypriots and the whole island.

(CS)

[03] Turkish Cypriot politicians say Turkey should have accepted to help in Troodos fire on the Republic of Cyprus' terms

When Mentes Gunduz, "independent deputy" in occupied Morfou area, asked him how Turkey could have accepted to help in extinguishing the fire under the conditions put [by the Republic of Cyprus], Sahali recalled that help was also given by Israel and Europe and that all of them acted according to the instructions of the center in charge of managing the crisis.

According to Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (24.06.16), Mehmet Cakici, "deputy" with the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that if the aim of the Turkish side was to offer help in extinguishing the fire on the Troodos Mountains, it should have complied with the terms set by the Republic of Cyprus. Speaking also at the "assembly", Cakici noted that the aim should have been to offer help and that if there is a will, help should be offered properly and procedures and requests should be respected.

Yeni Duzen reports also that Serdar Denktas, self-styled deputy prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, replied to the above comments alleging that the views of all those who argue that the Greek Cypriots were right in conditionally accepting Turkey's offer for help with a four day delay "are to be damned". Noting that tension was created during the discussion of the issue at the "assembly", the paper writes that Denktas said that there was a problem, if they blamed themselves for something on which they were right.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Racism escalated in the occupied area after the Troodos fire; Experts say central coordination is of vital importance during fires

Nationalists started shouting again that "we cannot live with the Greek Cypriots", writes the paper, which cites a statement made by Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci that their "soul was burning" and wonders why Akinci did not visit the Troodos Mountains with President Anastasiades and why a three day mourning has not been declared in the occupied area of Cyprus, since the Turkish Cypriots argue that the Troodos Mountains also belongs to them, as Pentadaktylos Mountains belongs to the Greek Cypriots as well.

Meanwhile, in his daily column in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (24.06.16), Sami Ozuslu also comments on the fire under the title "Let your diplomacy go bankrupt". Ozuslu recalls the fire on Pentadaktlylos Mountains in 1995 when the breakaway regime rejected the help offered by the Republic of Cyprus. He writes that in 2016 Turkey offered help to the Republic of Cyprus to extinguish the fire on the Troodos Mountains and President Anastasiades first said no but later told them to come.

He notes: "However, this did not happen, because 'diplomacy' was activated. The result: On the one hand Troodos burned, is gone. On the other hand, however, the expectations for a solution in this country have been turned into ashes".

Ozuslu adds that one friend of his, who is an experienced captain pilot, told him that the pilots of firefighting airplanes do a dangerous job and that many firefighting helicopters and airplanes crash whilst extinguishing fires. "He stresses that it is of vital importance for the pilots to be managed by a single center in an operation in which tens of helicopters and airplanes participate", says Ozuslu noting that his experienced pilot friend told him that in this way the aircrafts' missions are planned and it is ensured that they fly as safely as possible.

According to Ozuslu, the pilot said: "Of course this coordination would be conducted in the south since the fire was in the south and the airports of Larnaka or Paphos would be used. Anyone who would participate in such an effort should have complied with the rules and the instructions. The Turkish planes should have also participated in this. What would be the meaning of landing at Tymbou and throw water randomly here and there on the Troodos Mountains? Flights without coordination could create danger for the other airplanes. Unfortunately, this mentality leads us nowhere".

(I/Ts.)

[05] No trained personnel for fire engines; fire extinguisher in the "TNRC" soon; a meeting on fire at Akinci's office

Karzaoglu further said that they could not even rent the helicopters, which were supposed to offer services during the period June 15 - October 15. He added that in 2010, 16 surveillance cameras were bought for 950.000 euro in order to observe the area from occupied Lefka until the occupied Karpasia cape, however they closed the system because no personnel was familiar with this technology.

According to Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (24.06.16), the self-styled minister of tourism and environment Fikri Ataoglu announced that a fire extinguisher plane or a helicopter would soon be deployed from Turkey to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. He added that at this moment there were two helicopters and one plane at three points in Turkey, which could act immediately in case of fire in the "TRNC".

Meanwhile, according to illegal Bayrak television (online, 24.06.16), a high level meeting was held this morning upon a call made by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci at his office.

Self-styled prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun, self-styled deputy prime minister and the minister of finance Serdar Denktas, respective "ministers", the commander of the "Cyprus Turkish Security Forces" (editor's note: Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus) Major General Erhan Uzun and "officials" from the relevant "institutions" or "government departments" attended the meeting.

Preparations for possible fire hazards, lowering the risk of fire particularly in forest areas to the lowest possible level were taken up during the meeting.

Establishing coordination with the aim of responding to possible fires immediately and effectively is also expected to be evaluated in detail and finalized during today's meeting.

(DPs)

[06] Self-styled ministers' contacts in Turkey

Vatan writes that the "minister of foreign affairs" Tahsin Ertugruloglu met with the Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. No statements were made after the meeting.

The paper also reports that the "minister of public works and transportation" Kemal Durust met with the Turkish Minister of Transportation, Maritime and Aviation Ahmet Arslan. Speaking after the meeting Durust stated that the breakaway regime would be strengthened further with the aid of the "motherland".

In addition, Havadis writes that the "minister of health", Faiz Sucuoglu, is travveling to Istanbul today in order to hold contacts with Turkish officials regarding the plans for constructing a new hospital in occupied Lefkosia.

(CS)

[07] Azerbaijan delegation is visiting the breakaway regime

According to the paper, issues regarding Azeri students who study in the breakaway regime, especially in the Famagusta region, as well as efforts to strengthen relations between the two "countries", politically and socially, were discussed during the meeting.

Hasanoglu stated that on the occasion of the celebrations for the 25th anniversary establishment of the Azerbaijan, celebrations would also be held in occupied Keryneia. He also expressed the hope that the "peoples of the two countries" get to know each other's history and added that the history of Azerbaijan should be included in the history books of the "TRNC".

(CS)

[08] Occupied Galateia "mayor" in Portugal to receive certification document for participation to "Cittaslow" movement

This is the third village in occupied Cyprus which became member of "Cittaslow", following occupied Ayios Sergios and occupied Lefka.

"Cittaslow" is a movement founded in Italy and inspired by the Slow Food organization. It is part of the Slow Movement and their motto is "international network of cities where living is good".

(CS)

[09] Cavusoglu: Turkey may hold referendum over EU accession

"We [get] our power from the nation. If the EU negotiation process [does not move forward], as President Erdogan tried to say, then we may ask the public whether we should continue negotiations," Cavusoglu told at a news conference in Ankara on Thursday.

Cavusoglu's comments came one day after President Erdogan said Turkey too could hold a "Brexit style" referendum on its process to join the EU. "But we believe that common sense would dominate the meetings", Cavusoglu said. "We want to continue our way with the EU, especially as regards visa-free travel deal; we want something that is our right."

Cavusoglu said Chapter 33 on financial and budgetary provisions would be opened on June 30 with the participation of First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmerman and Turkey's EU Minister Omer Celik.

[10] Turkey says visit by German politicians to Incirlik base 'not appropriate'

"It is not appropriate for non-military delegations and politicians to visit the Incirlik Air Base," said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on June 23, during a joint press conference with his Maltese counterpart in Ankara.

German news website Spiegel Online reported that a German Defence Ministry official had told a closed parliamentary panel that Turkey had blocked a visit by Ralf Brauksiepe, a Deputy to German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, to the Incirlik Air Base.

A spokesman for the German Defence Ministry also confirmed the claim, according to Reuters. "Turkish officials do not currently approve of the travel plans", a Ministry spokesman said, confirming a report published by Spiegel.

"There is no written statement on the reason," he added, according to AFP.

Brauksiepe had planned to visit the Incirlik base along with some German lawmakers next month, the spokesman said, adding that Berlin still hoped the trip could go ahead.

[11] HDP calls on international community for solidarity after campaigners' arrests

Since a fragile peace process and a two-and-a-half-year de facto ceasefire were shattered in July 2015, the pressure on daily Ozgur Gundem has multiplied, as well as the arrests, Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, co-chairs of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), said on June 23.

"This is another violation of freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Turkey, with which the AKP [the ruling Justice and Development Party] leadership seeks to suppress any democratic opposition to their reign. In light of this latest example of the AKP regime's unlawful and limitless assault against any form of dissent, we call upon the international public to stand in solidarity with all forces struggling for democracy and freedom in Turkey," said Demirtas and Yuksekdag.

"Since the negotiations for a democratic and political solution to the Kurdish conflict were terminated, the pressure on the newspaper staff has increased, as have arrests," they remarked.

"Since it was founded on May 14, 1992, this newspaper [Ozgur Gundem] has been subject to continuous violations of press freedom by all Turkish governments to date because it has been critically reporting on the Kurdish conflict and documenting anti-democratic measures in Turkey," argued Demirtas and Yuksekdag, while recalling that in April 1994, the paper was closed down following a court ruling.

Three prominent figures, internationally-acclaimed human rights defender Sebnem Korur Fincanc?, who is the president of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV), Erol Onderoglu, Turkey's representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and journalist Ahmet Nesin, were arrested on June 20 after supporting a campaign in solidarity with Ozgur Gundem, which was started on May 3, World Press Freedom Day.

A total of 44 prominent journalists and thinkers - including Hasan Cemal, Seyhmus Diken, Tugrul Ery?lmaz, Ayse Duzkan, Can Dundar and Ihsan Eliac?k - served as one-day editors-in-chief during the solidarity campaign. Some 37 of them have been investigated so far.

[12] Russia invites Turkey to economy meeting in Sochi

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vassily Nebenzia said that the country expected Turkey to attend the Black Sea Economic Cooperation meeting (BSEC) in Sochi along with Ukraine, another country Russia has poor relations with.

"We invited all ministers and are expecting everyone, including Turkey and Ukraine, but there is still no answer. I think it will become clear [who will participate] this week or the beginning of next week at the latest," Nebenzia told the Russian Ria Novosti news agency. He also stated that the format of the meeting was not conducive to bilateral talks, although he voiced Moscow's readiness to hold talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (24.06.16), under the title "The first invitation from Moscow to Ankara", reports that the Turkish Foreign Ministry will examine the invitation.

(DPs) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

(DPs/ AA)

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article