Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-08-11

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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] Turkey's MFA criticizes Greek FM Kotzias' statements regarding the removal of the guarantee system in Cyprus

[02] Illegal visit by Cavusoglu to the occupied area of Cyprus is postponed

[03] The breakaway regime tries to prevent the use of the Cyprus' Republic passport for those who participate in fairs and other events

[04] UBP-DP "coalition government" started distributing "citizenships" again

[05] A "Turkish Cypriot culture day" was held in Budapest

[06] The water from Turkey sold in different prices in various "municipalities"

[07] "Public expenditures" of the breakaway regime reduced

[08] There is an 11% increase of newcomers at the illegal universities for the next academic year

[09] Erdogan: US must choose, 'FETO or Turkey'

[10] Cavusoglu: Turkey and Russia will establish a joint military, intelligence and diplomacy mechanism

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey's MFA criticizes Greek FM Kotzias' statements regarding the removal of the guarantee system in Cyprus

A written statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Ankara condemned the statements of Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias made on the 20th of July which attempted to establish irrelevant linkages between the coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July 2016 and Turkey's guarantor state status regarding the whole of the Island of Cyprus.

The statement pointed out that Athens continued to maintain the same unfortunate and regretful stance as stated in the Greek Foreign Minister's website posted on the 2nd of August.

It called upon Greece to adopt a constructive and realistic stance on the Cyprus problem and alleged that Turkey's presence in Cyprus emanated from the 1960 Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance. "We would like to remind that Greece turned a blind eye to the destruction of the partnership Republic in 1963 and supported the bloody coup on the island with the support of the Greek military junta with a view to annexing the island to Greece. In response to this attempt for the complete overthrow of the constitutional order in Cyprus, Turkey intervened and re-established security on the basis of the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance", the statement read.

In the aftermath of the heinous coup attempt on the 15th of July, Turkey expects her neighbour Greece to abstain from such unfortunate statements which aim to take advantage of the present situation, and to act in line with the friendly and neighbourly relations and within the necessary spirit of democratic solidarity.

"On this occasion, we once again strongly emphasize that we expect Greece, as the other Motherland and Guarantor State in Cyprus, to approach this issue with a sense of responsibility necessary in this critical period of the comprehensive settlement negotiations on the island", the statement concluded.

[02] Illegal visit by Cavusoglu to the occupied area of Cyprus is postponed

Cavusoglu was scheduled to arrive in the occupied area of Cyprus on Thursday for a three day visit to meet with "state" and "government officials".

The new date for his visit is expected to be announced in the coming days.

[03] The breakaway regime tries to prevent the use of the Cyprus' Republic passport for those who participate in fairs and other events

The paper notes that this decision, that was taken on June 1, 2016 caused a lot of reaction in 2013 when was first adopted.

Kibris contacted the "ministry of foreign affairs" which confirmed the news. "The council of ministries has decided not to offer any assistance unless the producers travel with the TRNC or the TR passport", an "official" of the "foreign ministry" told the paper.

The decision caused a lot of reaction among producers who were planning to participate in an international fair in Italy next month. For years now the "state" was covering 60-75% of the participants' expenses in similar fairs.

Commenting on the issue, the chairman of the "Morfou-Lefka citrus fruits union", Sami Dayioglu stated that this decision is wrong and called on "prime minister" Huseyin Ozgurgun to revise it, noting that the fairs allow them to develop and make their products known to the world.

(CS)

[04] UBP-DP "coalition government" started distributing "citizenships" again

Yeni Duzen writes that 433 persons were granted the "TRNC citizenship" in just five months and this was the result of 158 persons who were living in the breakaway regime having a work permit and applied for "citizenship" and the rest 275 were their families (spouses and children) who also were granted the "citizenship".

The paper criticizes the decision published yesterday at the press according to which the persons who have "work permit" and completed living in the breakaway regime for 11 years without committing any crime will have the "right" to apply for the "TRNC citizenship" and writes that this decision is the result of the demand of the "immigration department" and the will of the "coalition government" to distribute "citizenships" again.

(CS)

[05] A "Turkish Cypriot culture day" was held in Budapest

The event organised by the "representation office" of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus in Budapest was held at the Yunus Emre Institute. The acting leader of the Jobbik party in the Hungarian Parliament Marton Gyongyosi also attended.

Among those who attended were also the Turkish Ambassador to Budapest Sakir Fak?l? and the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Budapest Vilayet Guliyev.

Speaking at the event, the "TRNC representative to Budapest" Selda Cimen said that they want to see relations between the two "countries" strengthened.

On the same event, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (11.08.16) reports that "the Mediterranean Strategic Research Centre (MSRC)" delegation is currently to Hungary to represent the "TRNC" at the Hungarian-Turkish Turan Congress between 12-14 August.

[06] The water from Turkey sold in different prices in various "municipalities"

The paper notes that the highest price for the water is in occupied "Lefkosia" where 30 tons of water are sold for 6,52 TL while the cheapest price is in Vatili and Assia where 30 tons of water are sold for 3,50 TL.

Reporting on the same issue, Star Kibris (11.08.16) writes that Geunyeli "municipality" is the only one out of 28 "municipalities" that did not sign the agreement for receiving the water.

(CS)

[07] "Public expenditures" of the breakaway regime reduced

Atun further said that the economic programs being implemented over the past 6 years had played an important role in achieving the set goals to reduce the amount of money allocated for the "public sector".

Evaluating the economy of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Atun said that the economy had undergone enormous transformation over the past 6 years and that "protocols" signed with Turkey were focused on increased investments.

He said that currently the "state" is only using 10 million Turkish Liras of the 200 million TL allocated for "public expenditures".

"The 2010-2012 economic program which had envisaged a reduction of public expenditures has formed the foundations of economic policies over the past 6 years. From now on this will be the basis of future economic programs, irrelevant of who comes to government", Atun added.

He also pointed out that 848 million Turkish Liras had been spent on the real sector through economic programs implemented since 2009.

[08] There is an 11% increase of newcomers at the illegal universities for the next academic year

The paper notes that despite this increase, there are still 6,300 empty seats at the illegal universities which offer 18,266 student positions for the current year.

The paper notes that the most popular universities are the "Near East University" which will have 1,884 students and the "Near Mediterranean University" with 1,205 students. The least favoured is the "Cyprus American University" with 74 students.

(CS)

[09] Erdogan: US must choose, 'FETO or Turkey'

"Either the coup-plotting terrorist FETO or the democratic country Turkey. It has to make this choice," he said, referring to the Gulen-led Fetullah Terrorist Organization that Ankara says mounted the bloody coup attempt through rogue elements within the military.

The President's remarks came as he addressed a mass crowd in front of the Presidential Palace in the capital ? one location attacked on the night of the coup attempt.

The gathering in Ankara last night was the last pro-democracy rallies which held since July 15, Erdogan announced.

He also warned citizens, however, to stay constantly vigilant as "betrayal can come from anywhere and anyone. "We want to finalize it here [Ankara]. But, I see that our people do not want to leave the squares", he said.

"Democracy watch cannot be only kept in certain hours, in certain places," he added, and called on Turks to protect "democracy, freedom, the state, and the future" 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The Turkish President once more suggested he sees no difference between terrorist groups such as the PKK, Daesh and U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen's FETO. "Those who follow the Pennsylvania-based charlatan who sold his soul to the devil, or Daesh, which shed Muslim blood, or the PKK that also has shed blood for 30 years to divide the country and the nation, will all lose in the end."

He stressed his "one nation, one flag, one homeland, and one state" slogan.

About a possible reinstatement of the death penalty in Turkey for those involved in the defeated coup, Erdogan reiterated his stance that the decision would be left up to Turkish lawmakers in the Parliament. He said that he would approve reinstating the death penalty if the Parliament approves.

[10] Cavusoglu: Turkey and Russia will establish a joint military, intelligence and diplomacy mechanism

Speaking at Anadolu Agency's Editors' Desk, Cavusoglu said that at the meeting between Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin they have paved the way for closer ties following a nine-month freeze after the shooting down of a Russian warplane.

"The officials will go to St. Petersburg tonight," Cavusoglu said. "Our delegation will consist of Foreign Ministry [personnel], the Turkish Armed Forces, along with our intelligence chief". Cavusoglu said the meetings will be held at ministerial level.

Erdogan's trip to Russia and the revival of ties between Russia and Turkey have sparked concern that the NATO member is turning increasingly to the East as it feels rebuffed by the West over a host of issues such as EU membership and the West's tepid response to the defeated July 15 coup.

Questioned about increased cooperation between the Turkish and Russian defence industries in the context of Turkey's NATO role, Cavusoglu said Ankara had already established defence sector cooperation with non-NATO countries, including missile development.

"Turkey wanted to cooperate with NATO members up to this point," the Minister said. "But the results we got did not satisfy us. Therefore, it is natural to look for other options. But we don't see this as a move against NATO."

Cavusoglu also touched on Turkish-Russian cooperation on Syria, where the two have supported opposing sides in the five-year civil war. He said both governments agreed on introducing a cease-fire, providing humanitarian aid and finding a political solution. "There may be different thoughts on how to apply the cease-fire," he said. "We particularly do not want attacks that hurt civilians. We also do not approve of attacking the moderate opposition in Syria. We are also against the siege of Aleppo."

Turning to the coup attempt, Cavusoglu said Turkey had no intelligence on the possibility of Gulen fleeing to another country, such as Egypt, in the face of a potential U.S. extradition. "We see the efforts of Egypt in trying to increase its relations with FETO and vice versa but there is no concrete information about Gulen going to Egypt," he said.

He added: "FETO exerts efforts not only to deteriorate Turkey's relations with Russia but with all other countries."

Turkey's Foreign Minister also stressed the importance of economic relations between Turkey and Russia, saying trading sanctions between the countries were being removed.

"Our trade volume has dropped 43% mutually in the last year. That total prices were down, the Russian rubble decreased in value, tourism and Turkey's export levels went down. All these can be shown as evidence," Cavusoglu said. "We need to get those numbers up."

"Our target in trade volume with Russia is $100billion. That is why Mr Putin said he will lift the sanctions imposed on Turkish products. It includes food and agricultural products, as well as the automotive sector," he added.

Turkey's Foreign Minister also said that Putin asked Erdogan to take measures on products that are embargoed by Russia, but still reaches the country via Turkey. "We will continue our embargo to these countries," Cavusoglu said. "We won't let this happen. Why would another country's products reach Russia, instead of our own?"

The Foreign Minister also reminded that discussion is underway to restart the charter flights, which was interrupted following the jet crisis.

When asked about the latest on the energy projects between Turkey and Russia, Cavusoglu said that the Akkuyu nuclear power plant process "will be accelerated".

Erdogan has announced that the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project in Mersin province, southern Turkey, would be granted strategic investment status.

In a 2010 agreement Russia said it would help construct and operate Turkey's first nuclear power plant, which is expected to produce around 35 billion kilowatt-hours per year and cost around $25 billion.

"We will also initiate Turkish Stream works as soon as possible and make necessary and additional agreements accordingly," Cavusoglu said.

Announced by Putin in Dec. 2014, the 'Turkish Stream' pipeline will carry Russian gas via the Black Sea and Turkey to southeastern Europe. The project was shelved following the November jet crisis.

Turkey, which is the second biggest consumer of Russian gas after Germany, imports around 30 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia annually via two pipelines; the Blue Stream and the western line. The private sector in Turkey imports 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per year, representing over 30% of Russia's gas exports to Turkey.

Upon a question on Turkish-Russian joint investment funds, Cavusoglu said the idea came up during the Erdogan-Putin meeting to pave the way for businesspeople to take over major projects.

"Turkish businessmen have investments in Russia and Russian businessmen want to make business with Turkish businessmen in several countries," Cavusoglu said. "The project will pave the way for both countries' businessmen."

When asked about the expectations of a suggested Turkey-Russia-Azerbaijan trilateral summit, Cavusoglu said the idea came up on July 15, when Foreign Ministers were returning from Azerbaijan's capital Baku.

"During our meeting in Baku, Azerbaijani officials said that a trilateral summit was established between Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran," Cavusoglu said. "I told them there can also be trilateral summit with Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkey."

The Foreign Minister said that Erdogan offered the possible summit to Putin and get a positive response. "Lots of subjects can be brought up during that meeting. Unfortunately there is this Karabakh issue and occupied lands of Azerbaijan," Cavusoglu stated.

"We have made lots of efforts to resolve the issue. Russia made some attempts as well. We are right now considering Russia's suggestions, which suit our suggestions to Armenia."

Cavusoglu said Turkey will do its part on the issue, because "both our Russian and Azerbaijani friends want us to contribute to the subject". TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs /AM)

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