Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-08-08

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] Slogans in favour of Erdogan, the AKP and the death penalty were shouted at a pro-Turkey rally in the occupied area of Cyprus

[02] Millions of people gathered for democracy rally in Turkey; Ozgurgun attended the rally, but Akinci not

[03] Pro-AKP columnist criticizes the Turkish Cypriots over their stance on the coup attempt in Turkey

[04] Akinci: There are circles in Cyprus that will reject even the best Cyprus settlement

[05] AA alleges that "security and guarantees" are the most difficult issue in the Cyprus negotiations

[06] Turkish Cypriot columnist: "Security and guarantees" are the easiest issue in the Cyprus negotiations

[07] Siber: The Greek Cypriot side's passive behaviour towards Turkish Cypriots' attacks create worries

[08] Turkish high-rank police officer who served in the breakaway regime was arrested for links with FETO

[09] Ozyigit: Turkish Cypriots are becoming poorer every single day

[10] The GNP per capita was decreased in the occupied area of Cyprus

[11] Economic relations and Syria will be the key topics at Erdogan-Putin meeting

[12] Nine icons were discovered in a house in occupied Famagusta

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Slogans in favour of Erdogan, the AKP and the death penalty were shouted at a pro-Turkey rally in the occupied area of Cyprus

Huseyin Ozgurgun, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and Tugrul Turkes, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cypriot affairs addressed the rally, in which Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also participated through a teleconference. Yildirim thanked the Turkish Cypriots who attended the rally to express their "solidarity and brotherly feelings" for Turkey.

The paper writes that 132 organizations, "institutions", "municipalities", "universities", political parties, companies and associations expressed their support to the rally during which very strict security measures were taken. According to Kibris, the participants in the rally varied from six to eight thousand persons. They shouted slogans such as "Allah is great", "Everything for the motherland", "Recep Tayyip Erdogan" and "The martyrs do not die, the country cannot be divided".

In his address, Turkes wished for the negotiations in Cyprus to end in a positive manner, a solution to be reached and the inhabitants of "south Cyprus" to be able to participate in such rallies, just like people from all over the occupied area of the island came together on Friday. Turkes' speech was interrupted by slogans saying "we want death penalty". Replying to the slogans, he said that those who attempted the coup will be severely punished. After his address, Turkes read out a message by President Erdogan.

Following Turkes' speech, Ozgurgun addressed the rally. During his address the slogan "The prime minister is here, where is the president" was shouted. Ozgurgun said that Turkey is defending its democracy today and the Turkish Cypriots support Turkey which is always by their side. Noting that the whole world sees and hears this support, Ozgurgun argued that the Turkish Cypriot always want Turkey to be strong, because its strength gives power to the Turkish Cypriots as well.

Under the title "Slogans in favour of 'AKP', 'Erdogan' and the 'death penalty' at the Saray Square", Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (06.08.16) reported that in spite of the support of the National Unity Party, the Democratic Party and the People's Party and many other organizations and the "warnings" of many "ministries", "universities" and private companies the participants in the rally were only around four thousand persons.

Under the title "The rally of the greasers", Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (06.08.16) reported that neither the full-page announcements in the newspapers nor the pressure exerted on the "civil servants" or the threats for dismissals from the "municipalities" or the buses which had been leased to carry those who wished to participate in the rally or the doner kebab which was distributed for free at the square were enough to make the Turkish Cypriots participate in this rally.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Millions of people gathered for democracy rally in Turkey; Ozgurgun attended the rally, but Akinci not

The rally was a rare event in which the leaders of three political parties took the stage upon a call made by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leaving aside their political differences.

The event begin with Mehmet Gormez, the head of Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet), reciting the Quran.

"That night, I realized that I am a part of a very big nation," said Orcun Sekercioglu, who came to the stage on a wheelchair. He was wounded by coup soldiers on the Bosphorus Bridge as he was standing against tanks.

Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m said that "Istanbul is great", while addressing the crowd.

"July 15 has opened a door of consensus for Turkey," Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kilicdaroglu said, while addressing the crowd. "There is a new Turkey now," Kilicdaroglu added. All political party leaders should learn lessons from the coup attempt, he said. "That includes me."

He also read out a 12-article list similar to the one he read out at a democracy rally in Istanbul on July 24, including an emphasis on the republic and democracy, equality before the law, the importance of the parliamentary system, the independence of law and an independent media.

"If there wasn't a republic, Erdogan wouldn't be the President. Y?ld?r?m wouldn't be the Prime Minister. Kahraman wouldn't be Parliamentary Speaker. I wouldn't be the leader of CHP," he said.

K?l?cdaroglu also mentioned secularism in his speech, saying the failed takeover showed the importance of it. "We need to contribute to the strengthening of democracy," he said, adding that an educational system based on questioning should be brought into being.

"I am happy because I can see the rise of Turkey," Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli said in his address to millions from all walks of life. "July 15 is a milestone for Turkey," he noted, praising the citizenry's strong stance against the coup soldiers at the cost of their lives.

Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar received a big round of applause when he took the stage. Along with Akar, other members of the top brass who were taken hostage by the coup plotters were present at the meeting. Akar reiterated that U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen was responsible for the coup.

Erdogan arrived in Yenikap? in a helicopter alongside with first lady Emine Erdogan.

President Erdogan started his speech by thanking the people who stood against the tanks and planes used by the coup plotters during the failed takeover.

He wished his condolences to the 240 people killed by putschists, of whom 172 were civilians, 63 were police officers and five were soldiers. He also wished speedy recovery to the 2,195 wounded.

During Erdogan's speech the crowd repeatedly shouted that they wanted death penalty to be reintroduced. "If the Parliament accepts the reintroduction of death penalty, I will accept it," he told the crowd, adding that the death penalty exists in the U.S., Japan and "many other countries".

"If the people want death penalty, I think the political parties will also accept it", he also said, as he noted that the death penalty existed until 1984 in Turkey.

Saying that the people showed that they won't accept slavery on the night of the failed coup bid, Erdogan added that Gulen movement calculated many mischiefs, but couldn't take the people into account.

Erdogan also touched upon the suspensions that were handed out since the failed takeover, saying that the gaps will be filled.

During his speech, Erdogan criticized Germany for not allowing him to participate in a video conference.

"The triumph is democracy's, the squares are the people's," said flyers put through doors overnight advertising free bus, ferry and subway transport to the rally. The slogan adorned banners hung from bridges and buildings across the country.

"We're here to show that these flags won't come down, the call to prayer won't be silenced, and our country won't be divided," said Hac? Mehmet Haliloglu, a civil servant who travelled from the Black Sea province of Ordu for the rally.

"This is something way beyond politics, this is either our freedom or death," he said, a large Turkish flag over his shoulder and a matching baseball cap on his head.

Repeated announcements were made in the area regarding a ban on carrying party flags or party slogans. Millions of Turkish flags were seen in the area, as well as the flags of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Albania and the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

Posters of Erdogan and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, were also seen hung around the venue.

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the country's third biggest party, was not invited to the rally. The HDP co-leaders harshly criticized the fact that the party was not invited to the event but some HDP voters independently attended the event.

Emine Aksu, a Turkish citizen attending the rally in Yenikap?, said the HDP should have also been invited to take part in the demonstration. "We all took to the streets against the coup attempt on that day. I voted for the HDP two years ago but the HDP was not invited to the rally. The HDP should have been invited to the rally for peace and unity," said Aksu.

Fatma Aksu from Batman said that as a Kurdish mother, she was at the rally for the future of her children. "If this coup attempt had been successful, then there would have been nothing left for Kurdish-Turkish brotherhood," she said, adding that one could not have spoken about democracy.

Turkey's state broadcaster TRT screened the rally in seven different languages live on social media. The event was streamed on YouTube in Turkish, English, French, Spanish, German, Russian and Arabic.

The "Democracy and Martyrs Rally" was held as the last in a series of meetings to protest the failed takeover, which is believed to have been masterminded by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO).

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (08.08.16) reports that the self-styled prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) participated also at the rally. On the other hand, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (08.08.16) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci did not attend the rally, in spite the fact that he was invited. The paper describes the rally as "the first step for the new Turkey that Erdogan is dreaming about it" and adds that it is expected that in 2023 "the Islamic State of Turkey" will be established as Erdogan aims.

[03] Pro-AKP columnist criticizes the Turkish Cypriots over their stance on the coup attempt in Turkey

The columnist claimed that Fethullah Gulen's organization leaked into the "capillary vessel" of the state in Turkey and it did the same thing but in a more devious manner in the occupied area of Cyprus. "Moreover, it is said that the situation there is deeper and dirtier because of the gambling and the unregistered flow of money", he notes adding that "perhaps this is the reason for which the TRNC is seen as FETO's black box".

He argues: "Reference is made to a very serious FETO organization in the TRNC, from businessmen, to the police organization and the education sector. The fact that, in spite of this, the TRNC government does not act is very interesting. From Cyprus history we know that the US-British control is very strong in that geographical area during the past 50 years. [?] I wonder, is it for this reason that the TRNC administration is continuing its silence now? [?]"

Referring to the issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (07.08.16) reported that "Akinci was targeted" by pro-Erdogan media in Turkey.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Akinci: There are circles in Cyprus that will reject even the best Cyprus settlement

Speaking during the grape festival at the occupied village of Galateia, Akinci said: "The voice of these circles has started gradually to rise. While, we are working with all our strength for solution, their voices have started to rise". Akinci stressed that he did not come to power in order to repeat the stance, which existed 42 years ago and did not produce solution, but to create a new structure, which will be accepted by both sides, and the two sides will live in freedom, security and equality.

Referring to the natural gas resources, Akinci reiterated that it should be a source of cooperation and not dispute, adding that this was the Turkish Cypriot side's concept from the beginning.

On the Cyprus issue, Akinci said that in 2017 a new UN Secretary General and a new US administration will come into force, claiming that it is expected that in the government controlled area of Cyprus a propaganda phase will be experienced due to the presidential elections of 2018. He added that the search for gas in Cyprus' EEZ will also enter a new stage in 2017. "Therefore we are working at full speed in order to find a solution to the Cyprus problem by the end of 2016", Akinci stressed.

Referring to the 15th of July attempted coup in Turkey and the developments that emerged afterwards, Akinci expressed the hope that such events are never experienced again. Explaining that from the very beginning the Turkish Cypriot "people" believe in democracy and pluralism and have internalised this, Akinci said that pluralist democracy is an essential part of the parliamentary system. He also stressed that from the very moment the coup attempt was realized in Turkey, the Turkish Cypriots had objected to this, adding that no one can expect the Turkish Cypriot "people "to act any differently.

"The democratic law system in Turkey, with every passing day will progress further. Turkey said that it will overcome this situation in cooperation and never again will such an attempt be made", Akinci noted.

Reminding the statements that whatever happens in Turkey after the coup attempt it will reflect also in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Akinci said: "There is a lot of nailing or back-stabbing in such periods. Exploiting such periods, some persons may nail or slander each other due to personal or political reasons. The antidote for this is to adhere strictly to democracy and to the rules of law".

(DPs)

[05] AA alleges that "security and guarantees" are the most difficult issue in the Cyprus negotiations

AA notes that threat is the main source of the policies of both sides in Cyprus and their "motherlands" as regards the security. For example, if the threat for the Greek Cypriots comes from the Turkish Cypriots, the security policy is different than in the occasion of a threat by Turkey. "The same situation is valid for the Turkish Cypriots and the guarantor states", argues the analysis noting that Cyprus is important for Turkey from the point of view of being located at "an opening point to the Mediterranean and influences the geopolitics of Eastern Mediterranean".

Referring to a process of three stages, AA claims that all proposals submitted on the issue of guarantees changed according to the existing conditions at a given period of time and notes that according to the proposals submitted by the UN officials today, the treaties of Alliance and Guarantees should be separated from each other and one of them should be abandoned.

However, the proposal submitted by the Greek Cypriot side provides for the total abolition of the system, argues AA, adding that Turkey's insistence that its active and effective guarantees derived from 1960 Constitution should continue forever, but Ankara gives the impression that it could revise this position according to the changing conditions in order for not being the side which will interrupt the negotiations. Therefore, Turkey wants two main targets to be achieved on the issue of security and guarantees: the one is to "secure the survival and security of the Turkish Cypriots" and the other to prevent a threat deriving from the island against Turkey's own security and protect its "rights and interests in Eastern Mediterranean".

"As a requirement of the special conditions of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot people" is the side which needs security more than anyone else in Cyprus, alleges the "analysis", claiming that "the implementation of the suggested international security and guarantees system does not seem possible".

The case of security in Cyprus was built on the Turkish Cypriots' right to exist and of Greek Cypriots' traumatic experiences of the past to be satisfied, alleges AA claiming that "the last point to which the Turkish side could come on the security issue is the acquis in the Annan Plan with some minor changes, provided that its substance will not change".

Arguing that the Turkish position on the issue is strong from the point of view of the international law, AA reports that all aforementioned agreements are in effect and valid and they cannot be unilaterally amended because these are international agreements. It notes that Turkey's margins for concessions on the issue of security and guarantees is not very broad because the political agreement to be signed does not seem to be viable without having security. The recent view submitted by the UN in the negotiation exceeds this margin, notes AA. The first phase of this two-option plan provides for the construction of a system in which the Treaty of Alliance will be valid and a number of agreed troops to remain in the island. Accordingly, the Treaty of Guarantees will be abolished, the right of unilateral intervention will be lost and the "influential guarantees" principle will be interrupted. It is said that the Turkish side might carry out a bargaining on the issue of increasing the number of the troops and equipment which will remain in the island. The second option provides for the ending of the Treaty of Alliance and the Turkish troops to leave the island. However, the Treaty of Guarantees continues and the wish is to create a system of international guarantors such as NATO and the EU. Accordingly, the Turkish position for "active intervention" is abolished as the system is becoming a system of international guarantees.

"[...], It is estimated that having this kind of practice could be problematic from the point of view of risk analysis, while the continuation of the new regime which will be established in Cyprus is risky and there is a potential for communal conflicts", alleges AA.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Turkish Cypriot columnist: "Security and guarantees" are the easiest issue in the Cyprus negotiations

"Meanwhile, it is useful to note the following: There is actually no one in the TRNC who believes that the Greek Cypriots could attack, or will attack the Turkish Cypriots and they have such a plan in mind. Those who say this are the plunderer circles which are exploiting somehow the established order. [?] And the interesting thing is that all those belong to the 'heroes'! Where is your heroism my brother? What kind of heroes are you? You are cowards! Their fear is not that the Greek Cypriots will attack, but it is the money. The property. The plunder. I repeat. The issue of security and guarantees in Cyprus could be overcome easily. The EU will become guarantor of the Greek Cypriots and Turkey of the Turkish Cypriots. And the issue will be closed. However the citizens should be told the truth. [?]

The actual problem in the issue of security and guarantees is the problem of the sole existing legal bond of Turkey with the island of Cyprus. The Security and Guarantees, that is, the well-known agreement of the 1960's, is the only organic bond of Turkey with the island of Cyprus. Otherwise, it is not the issue of security of 200 thousands, 220 thousands or I do not know how many Turks of Cyprus. If Turkey establishes a unit named Cyprus Rapid Force consisted of 500 thousand persons in Sinop which is in its north, in Artvin which is in its northeast, it has the power to guarantee not only the Turkish Cypriots, but the half of the world. The Turkish army, despite the blow it received during the 15 July attempt, is still one of the most powerful armies in the world. It is the strongest army in the region.

Who are you deceiving? Security and guarantees, they say! This is not even an issue. The issue is not depriving Turkey from the legal ground of its relation with Cyprus which 'is its right'. [?] The Turkish Cypriots have not the slightest problem in the security and guarantees. I repeat: The problem is the issue and the effort of the Greek Cypriots to distance Turkey from the island in the sense of its 'legal right'."

(I/Ts.)

[07] Siber: The Greek Cypriot side's passive behaviour towards Turkish Cypriots' attacks create worries

She made these statements in an interview to Diyalog.

She went on and claimed how important the issue of guarantees is for the Turkish Cypriots stating: "Continuation of guarantees is the common will both of our people and of our assembly".

Sibel also stated that solution in Cyprus should not be the cause for new conflicts but a way to bring peace in the island, and she stated that she has worries over the issue. "Peace is not reached just with saying 'let's sign an agreement, let's reconcile", she said.

On the issue of properties, Siber argued that in a possible solution the method of property exchange and compensation will be applied for the Greek Cypriot properties that are located in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

Finally Siber said that rotating presidency is a condition for reaching a solution.

(CS)

[08] Turkish high-rank police officer who served in the breakaway regime was arrested for links with FETO

Gundoglu, who was sent to the breakaway regime from Turkey's General Police Headquarters had the duties of the "liaison officer" and was the person to select the "police officers" to be send to Turkey for further education.

(CS)

[09] Ozyigit: Turkish Cypriots are becoming poorer every single day

Citing information of the "central bank", Ozyigit stated that personal loans were 3,5 billion Turkish lira last December but have increased to 3,6 billion Turkish lira during the first five months of 2016. This was an increase up to 2,44%, he stated.

(CS)

[10] The GNP per capita was decreased in the occupied area of Cyprus

The paper publishes the following tables:

(DPs)

[11] Economic relations and Syria will be the key topics at Erdogan-Putin meeting

Erdogan and President Vladimir Putin will meet on Aug. 9, their first such meeting following Turkey's shooting down of a Russian warplane last November.

Russian political consultant Evgeny Minchenko said that the upcoming high-level meeting is very important but the Syrian topic would not be easy to agree upon. "I don't expect any important decisions after this meeting. However, some significant results in the economic sphere could be expected", Minchenko said.

Frozen trade and economic projects will be back on the agenda, said Boris Dolgov, a senior fellow at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences on Sunday. Dolgov said that tourism, the economy, trade relations and the lifting of sanctions are expected to be discussed.

"I think the main political topic of the meeting will be Syria. Russia must abandon its support for the Kurds in Syria if they are expecting some steps from Turkey," Dolgov added.

Andrey Listovsky, general director of the Energy Development Fund, an independent engineering body involved in the Russian energy sector, said Putin and Erdogan's meeting will bring the Turkish Stream project back to life.

Listovsky said that due to political instability in Ukraine, Russia wanted to stay away from that country on gas transit issues, adding: "That's why Russia needs a new natural gas pipeline. The most important alternative is the South Stream, in other words, the Turkish Stream."

He said that if Ankara did not show the same level of interest in the project as Russia did, "Russian experts should convince the Turkish side ... If Russia can bring the project into prominence, Turkey would not refuse it".

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (08.08.16) reports that Russian Ambassador to Ankara Andrey Karlov, in an interview to the paper, said that Russia always advocates collaboration that will benefit both countries and said that during the St. Petersburg meeting Putin and Erdogan will evaluate bilateral relations and will come up with a solution to end the crisis.

Commenting on the failed July 15 coup attempt, Karlov reiterated that Russia supports the elected government in Turkey and is opposed to any unconstitutional action against the government. Regarding Gulen schools, Karlov said that Russia realized the structure of the school system and its intention long ago and therefore closed down all Gulen schools in 2006.

[12] Nine icons were discovered in a house in occupied Famagusta

According to the paper, nine icons of the Greek Orthodox faith, along with eight pots of various sizes, a broken bowl and a wooden four-piece board were found inside a suitcase.

The paper publishes a picture of the items found.

(CS) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.pio.gov.cy

(DPs /AM)

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