Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-08-10

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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] Cavusoglu will carry out contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus as of tomorrow

[02] Ozgurgun said that they as "TRNC" seek an agreement that will safeguard the security of the Turkish Cypriot "people"

[03] Akinci sent the "law" on the establishment of "youth coordination office" back to "parliament" for amendment

[04] "Citizenship right" for 1,200 in the breakaway regime

[05] Atalay: "None of the 120 Turkish religious officers was removed from office"

[06] Russia, Turkey pledge to put ties back on track

[07] Turkish columnists views Erdogan-Putin meeting as a revision policy on Syrian issue

[08] Demirtas: Yenikap?'s flaw was not HDP's absence, but understanding democracy

[09] Occupied village does not receive enough water from the "great water project" to meet its needs

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Cavusoglu will carry out contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus as of tomorrow

During his illegal visit, Cavusoglu will carry out various contacts.

(DPs)

[02] Ozgurgun said that they as "TRNC" seek an agreement that will safeguard the security of the Turkish Cypriot "people"

In an interview to Turkish TV channel Haber Turk, Ozgurgun noted that they are not seeking a settlement at all costs and stressed that they will always say "yes" to an agreement that will obtain the bi-zonality, the political equality of the two "peoples", the two founding states, as well as the continuation of Turkey's active and effective guarantees.

Ozgurgun further said that their aim, as "government", is with the close cooperation of the motherland Turkey to maintain the "TRNC's economy" and to prepare a prosperous and strong economically "TRNC" for the agreement. He added: "It is not possible to waive the UN parameters; we won't accept this". He claimed that if the Greek Cypriots shared the same intention as Turkish Cypriots, it would have been an agreement and Cyprus would have been an EU member as a whole.

On the same issue, illegal Bayrak television (online, 09.08.16) reports that Ozgurgun has said that he was pleased with the interest shown to him and his delegation during the Democracy and Martyrs Rally in Istanbul. He argued that such displays and demonstration of solidarity between motherland Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot "people" which is part of the great Turkish nation are extremely important.

Underlining the importance of a strong Turkish Armed Forces and the functioning of democracy in Turkey, Ozgurgun said: "We as the TRNC government and Turkish Cypriot people give importance to this.. Our participation in the rally which brought together all these people was extremely important for us".

Pointing out that the FetullahTerror Organisation also known as FETO had been added to the "TRNC's" terrorist list shortly after the failed coup attempt on the 15th of July, Ozgurgun noted that even the simplest tip was taken seriously and investigated by the "TRNC police". He also expressed his view that the coup plotters within the Turkish army did not represent the Turkish Armed Forces.

Referring to the water brought to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus from Turkey via the pipeline project, Ozgurgun claimed that the current "government" had swiftly solved the crisis involving the distribution of the water shortly after coming to "office".

(DPs)

[03] Akinci sent the "law" on the establishment of "youth coordination office" back to "parliament" for amendment

A press release by Akinci's office read that "the law was sent back to the parliament to be amended after the supreme court ruled that the article 3; paragraph 1; subparagraph g of the law was in violation of article 90, paragraph 4 of the TRNC constitution".

The formation of the new "coordination office" was approved by the "TRNC Assembly", however, Akinci had applied to the "constitutional court" for an assessment of the "legality of the office".

[04] "Citizenship right" for 1,200 in the breakaway regime

According to the paper, the limit for applying for "citizenship", as was previously set by the "coalition government" of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the DP was 12 years.

With the new "regulation" 1,200 persons have the right to apply for the "TRNC "citizenship" for the current year. Next year 1,995 will have the right and two years later 1,304 persons will also have the right to apply for the "citizenship".

The paper further reports that when a person applies and granted the "citizenship" then his/her spouse and children are granted the "citizenship" as well. There are already 35,000 persons who have completed ten years of "residency" in the breakaway regime and waiting for the time to come to apply for "citizenship".

(CS)

[05] Atalay: "None of the 120 Turkish religious officers was removed from office"

Atalay, commenting on reports that 2,560 religious officers were removed from their duties in Turkey due to connections with FETO said that this is not the case for the religious "officers" who serve in the occupied area of Cyprus.

He went on and added that the Religious Affairs Department has no authority to assign or to remove any "officer" from his duty since this is a responsibility of the "Turkish embassy".

(CS)

[06] Russia, Turkey pledge to put ties back on track

Putin said both sides would follow a program to restore their economic and trade relations, noting that the priority for Russia and Turkey was that their ties return to their pre-crisis level. "Your visit today, which you made despite the really complex domestic political situation in Turkey, shows we all want to restart our dialogue and restore our relations," said Putin, addressing Erdogan.

Erdogan's visit to Russia is his first foreign trip since a July 15 coup attempt, in which more than 240 people were killed.

Putin said Russia would phase out sanctions against Turkey step by step, while adding that the priority was to return to the situation before the jet crisis.

The Russian President also described the talks with Erdogan as "constructive". "The most important point here will be our joint energy projects. We need to take robust political steps so as to realize these projects. The Turkish side has already taken key steps to realize them, yet we put a number of limitations. We will of course need some time to return to the pre-crisis levels in several fields, including tourism. We will, however, resolve the issue of resuming charter flights to Turkey in the near future. We will also enable Turkish construction companies to enter Russia," said Putin.

Erdogan underlined the importance of the meeting, a first after months of strained ties. "Talks with Putin were comprehensive and beneficial. Both sides are determined to restore our ties to the pre-crisis levels, and even better? I must say at the beginning that Turkey will grant a strategic investment status to the Akkuyu nuclear power plant. We will boost closer ties in the defence industry together with Russia," said Erdogan, adding that both sides would also accelerate works to establish a joint investment fund.

"The Turkish Stream project with Russia will be realized swiftly following a thorough review," he added.

Turkey and Russia are reinstating their annual bilateral trade target of $100 billion, Erdogan added. "We used to reach $35 billion in bilateral economic and trade ties on annual basis, but this figure has regressed to $27 billion or 28 billion now. We are determined to increase this to $100 billion," he noted.

The President said the visa issue with Moscow should also be resolved, saying it affected economic cooperation.

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (09.08.16) reports that Erdogan blamed the Fetullah Terror Organization (FETO) and its leaders for trying to foment discord between Turkey and Russia.

Having met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish and Russian businessmen and women in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg late Tuesday, Erdogan said, "Today it is well understood that the Fetullah Terror Organization and the powers behind it intended to deteriorate the relations between the countries"

Erdogan said that the shot down of the plane on Nov. 24, 2015 cast a dark shadow on the fruitful relations with Russia.

Furthermore, Turkish daily HDN newspaper (online, 10.08.16) reports that Turkey and Russia have agreed to build a mechanism on Syria which includes intelligence members, diplomats and military representatives, Turkey's Foreign Minister has said, underlining that the first bilateral meeting of this mechanism will take place in St. Petersburg on Aug. 11.

"In the past, we had separate mechanisms with Russia on Syria. Now, we are bringing intelligence, Foreign Ministry and military mechanisms together," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Anadolu Agency in an interview on Aug. 10.

The formation of this mechanism was agreed to during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Cavusoglu said.

National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Hakan Fidan and representatives from the Foreign Ministry and Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will depart for Russia late on Aug. 10 for the meeting in St. Petersburg, he added.

[07] Turkish columnists views Erdogan-Putin meeting as a revision policy on Syrian issue

First, the St. Petersburg summit marks a new chapter in the Ankara-Moscow relationship after months-long rift over the downing of a Russian warplane in late November 2015. Second, Erdogan's visit to Russia comes at a moment when Turkey's relationship with the Western bloc has hit bottom, therefore, sparking suggestions of a new alliance between Ankara and Moscow, especially on regional issues. Third, it's Erdogan's first visit abroad since the coup attempt during which he expressed his gratitude to his host for his immediate and unconditional support, unlike European countries, to the Turkish government after July 15.

Demirtas believes that apart from economy and energy issues, the two leaders have also largely focused on Syria. As a matter of fact, the strongest message on this issue was delivered by Erdogan even before his visit to Russia. In an interview with the Russian media, Erdogan described Russia "as the most important and primary actor in bringing peace to Syria". "I am of the opinion that Turkey and Russia should take steps together to resolve this issue," he stressed. He also suggested the establishment of a new mechanism with the participation of some other countries on Syria.

Erdogan's categorization of Russia "as the primary actor" with regards to the developments in Syria seems to be a very open message to its Western allies, particularly to the United States, with whom it is cooperating for the eradication of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). This statement does not necessarily mean that Turkey will halt all of its partnerships with the U.S.-led anti-ISIL coalition, but it clearly portends to a potential change in Ankara's priorities and partners on Syria.

On the same issue, columnist Murat Yetkin, writing also in HDN (10.08.16), under the title "Turkey-Russia back to future", reports that it was relief when Putin said the priority should return relations to the way they were before November 2015 and take them forward from that point.

Yetkin wrote that in yesterday's press conference Putin directly dived into economic relations, as if he forgot about the political crisis. They also talked about the Turkish (or South) Stream gas project via Turkey to Europe, tourism, trade and construction. He said that the sanctions imposed by Russia after the crisis would be lifted (albeit gradually).

Yetkin pointed out that there was an important detail mentioned in the press conference. Both Erdogan and Putin pointed at the need to handle the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project in a "strategic" manner. That might have a tangential link to the Syria crisis, which is still a major difference in foreign policies of the two countries. The location of the plant construction is on Turkey's East Mediterranean coast in the danger zone related to the Syria civil war and also to Turkey's Incirlik Air Base, which is being used by NATO and U.S.-led coalition flights against the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL).

Perhaps that was one of the reasons why the two leaders decided to have a second ? and with limited participation ? meeting on Syria and security matters. It should not be a surprise for anyone that there could be revisions in the Syrian policies of both Russia and Turkey at differing proportions.

Yetkin and Demirtas shared the same view that Erdogan's statement that Russia has become the major actor in the Syria conflict is an indirect criticism of the U.S.

[08] Demirtas: Yenikap?'s flaw was not HDP's absence, but understanding democracy

"The HDP was not in Yenikap? because the sole party which does not have a relationship with Fethullah is the HDP," said Demirtas, referring to Pennsylvania-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for the July 15 failed coup attempt.

The Yenikap? event was the first time the leaders of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) shared the same platform. However the HDP ? the third largest party in Parliament ? was not present.

"Senior staff [members] of the AKP, the CHP and the MHP has been in dialogue with Fethullah and they were aware of the coup! Of course, the HDP is absent among them!" he said.

"The AKP and Cemaat are partners," said Demirtas. Gulen's followers are often referred to as the "Hizmet" (Service) Movement, "Cemaat" (Community) or as the "parallel structure" by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the government. "How come they tricked you?" Demirtas asked, apparently addressing the ruling AKP government.

"Like you, they also collaborated to capture the state. They don't want Gulen's extradition, because if Gulen talks, God forbid, Turkey turns into the single-party system, because, then, we would stand alone. If Gulen is extradited and starts talking, then you would look and see that no such thing as the state has remained. Gulen is the principal state, they are the parallel," he said.

[09] Occupied village does not receive enough water from the "great water project" to meet its needs

The "mayor" of the village, Erbil Kara, stated to the paper that the 250-person village only received 1,5 tons of water during the last eight days despite the fact that 200,000 tons of water are received by the breakaway regime every day from Turkey, due to the "great water project". The "mayor" stated that the needs of the village are not met at all adding that the inhabitants face problems in their everyday life because of this development.

(CS) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs /AM)

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