Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-08-30

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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 is visiting the breakaway regime tomorrow

[02] Akinci will inform the Turkish Cypriot parties on the Cyprus problem

[03] "Coalition government" evaluates its four months in "power" and reiterates the demand for having a "representative" in the Cyprus talks

[04] Erdogan will reportedly meet Merkel in China to discuss the Incirlik crisis

[05] Turkey and Israel to exchange Ambassadors within weeks

[06] Turkey's Chief of General Staff: "Turkish army will be stronger once 'traitors' have been removed"

[07] Bahceli calls for permanent political unity against terror; He backs Turkey's operation in Syria

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Cavusoglu is visiting the breakaway regime tomorrow

According to the paper, Cavusoglu will participate, together with self-styled foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu, in the inauguration ceremony of a common project between Turkey and the breakaway regime on the field of "information technology and digital archives".

Cavusoglu will also hold meetings with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and with "prime minister" Huseyin Ozgurgun.

(CS)

[02] Akinci will inform the Turkish Cypriot parties on the Cyprus problem

The meeting will be held today in the afternoon.

(CS)

[03] "Coalition government" evaluates its four months in "power" and reiterates the demand for having a "representative" in the Cyprus talks

Ozgurgun referred to the issue of Fethullah Gulen's organization in the occupied area of Cyprus and said that they are evaluating the information they get, but until now they established no relation of the above mentioned organization with centers or persons in the occupied area of Cyprus. Commenting on information that a "reshuffle of the cabinet" will take place, Ozgurgun recalled that they came in "power" in the mid of this year and added that the "government" and its "ministers" need time and they could not be described as successful or unsuccessful within such a short period of time.

Referring to the issue of the establishment by Turkey of a so-called youth and sports coordination office in the occupied area of Cyprus, Ozgurgun said that he does not want to analyze what is behind the reactions against this "office" and that he met with all the sport clubs in the occupied area of the island and with 800 athletes without seeing any reaction against the "office". He argued that he does not know how much the young people who react against the "office" are related with sports and that he cannot understand what they oppose to.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (30.08.16) refers on its front page to the press conference under the title "Tension for the negotiations at the top of the state" and reports that Ozgurgun complained that he is not briefed by Akinci right after every meeting within the framework of the Cyprus negotiations and added that during former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat's period they had been briefed right after every meeting.

The paper reports that Denktas said that the "government" interprets differently than Akinci and the Greek Cypriot side the joint declaration of 11 February [2014] and added that they want to have a "representative" in the negotiations to see things "as these are and not as these are conveyed" to them.

In his statements, self-styled foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu alleged that "we do not need to deceive our people that a solution will be reached" and claimed that the joint declaration "should not be evaluated as the Koran of the [negotiating] process". Commenting on his recent conflict with Akinci, he argued that Akinci "personalized" the matter and told him "not to talk too much".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (30.08.16) reports that Ertugruloglu said that the negotiating process should not be open-ended. He added: "We do not have disagreements with Ankara. The government is in full agreement with Turkey on the issue of the solution of the Cyprus problem. Our target as government is not to destroy the negotiating process, but to end within a timetable the injustice which the Turkish Cypriot people suffer".

The same paper reports that Ozgurgun referred to the issue of guarantees and argued that they should be very careful on this issue, that the guarantee of the security of the Turkish Cypriots is very important and that they want Turkey's guarantees.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (30.08.16) reports that according to information it obtained after the press conference, the "government" insists on the participation of Mustafa Lakatamyali, "undersecretary" at the "foreign ministry", in the Turkish Cypriot negotiating team in the Cyprus talks, but Akinci is not positive to such a development.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (30.08.16) reports that Ozgurgun referred to the EU and said that they have launched efforts to create a "new vision" for the EU and to "objectively briefing" the "people". He also noted that they have started working for effective and correct use of the financial aid granted to them by the EU.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Erdogan will reportedly meet Merkel in China to discuss the Incirlik crisis

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is planned to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in China, where both leaders will be present for the G-20 Summit on September 3 and 4, diplomatic sources told the Hurriyet Daily News.

The Erdogan-Merkel meeting will be highest level contact between the two countries since relations soured over the Bundestag's resolution that labeled the mass killings of Ottoman Armenians in 1915 as genocide.

The two leaders are expected to discuss the state of bilateral ties, the potential visit of German lawmakers to Incirlik and the Turkey-EU migrant deal, which also contains visa liberalization for Turkish nationals in return of the implementation of the Readmission Agreement.

Turkey's rejection of a German parliamentary delegation's visit in late June to Incirlik Air Base, which hosts 250 German troops, six surveillance jets and a refueling tanker, deepened the row between the two allies, with threats from Berlin for the removal of its military presence to another regional country.

However, the visit of German EU Minister Michael Roth to Ankara last week seemed to inject hope into rebuilding Ankara-Berlin ties and overcoming the Incirlik crisis.

However, in response to a question about Roth's statement, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the much-anticipated visit of German MPs could only be possible if Berlin took "the necessary steps."

The steps Cavusoglu mentioned have two important aspects, according to the diplomatic sources. First, Turkey expects the German government to announce that it does not embrace the Bundestag's decision and therefore will not undertake governmental actions in that regard. Second, Turkey believes the support and solidarity shown by German officials in the aftermath of the July 15 failed coup attempt have not been sufficient so far and thus expects a clear display of support to Ankara.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Frank Walter-Steinmeier is expected to pay a visit to Turkey in mid-September, sources said. This visit is planned to take place on the eve of planned trip of German parliamentarians to Incirlik in October in a bid to remove the last hurdles before it and rebuild political ties.

[05] Turkey and Israel to exchange Ambassadors within weeks

Oron, who is Israel's senior diplomat in Turkey in the absence of an Ambassador, said the approval of June's normalization agreement by the Turkish Parliament last week was a critical phase in the restoration of links between the nations.

"We have reached a good result," she said. "It will be a good start and a basis for our relationship to continue. After all the necessary procedures are complete, we, actually, are at the beginning of the normalization process.

"When we know that we are able to return to Ambassador-level relations, I believe we will see enhanced activity between the two countries."

"At the end of the day, all of these efforts will bring us to one solution, to one sentence -- to rebuild confidence between two nations and two peoples," Oron also said.

She identified the economy, energy and information-sharing as the three most significant aspects in normalizing ties and said trade between the countries could reach $8 billion.

"Gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean will also prove to be a new aspect to the relationship", the envoy added.

Turkish and Israeli companies are discussing a possible gas pipeline between Israel and Turkey to transport natural gas supplies to Europe from the Leviathan gas field, which holds an estimated 620 billion cubic meters of gas.

"This is a strategic agreement that will enable exports of Israeli gas to Turkey, so this is another benefit for Israel," Oron said. "But before this, we need to revert to normal good relations between Israel and Turkey. First of all, we have to ensure that we can enjoy normalization with Turkey."

She added: "I believe the next phase might be to reach some kind of agreement between the two governments to enable private companies to firm-up plans to ensure that Israeli gas firstly reaches the Turkish market and thereafter the European markets. "It can definitely be a win-win situation for both sides. But both governments should make sure that there is a correct framework for that cooperation."

Oron said further that information-sharing would help both states deal with problems in the region. "If we can share information and understanding what is going on in this region, it would be very beneficial for Israel because Turkey is a very important country and a major regional player," she said.

"We missed this kind of cooperation we used to have. Israel and Turkey are the most stable countries in this region and can definitely enjoy such cooperation."

Finallly Oron praised Turkey's defeat of the July 15 coup attempt. "It should be still investigated," she said. "The international community should bear it in mind and try to support Turkey as much as they can. We totally support the democratic process in Turkey and we want to continue with our normalization.

"I believe the Turkish nation will prevail and will be a much stronger and more secure country."

[06] Turkey's Chief of General Staff: "Turkish army will be stronger once 'traitors' have been removed"

"The fact that the army is carrying out operation Euphrates Shield - which is essential for the peace and security of our nation, the people in neighboring countries, and our borders - while [Naval Forces] are defending the seas and the [Air Forces] put the signature of the Republic in the air, just days after this abominable [coup] attempt shows that the TSK has lost none of its power. It will become stronger as the traitors within it are removed," Akar said in a statement to mark Turkey's official Aug. 30 Victory Day.

Vowing that the military will continue to fight against "all terrorist organizations" that intend to harm "our national unity and indivisible integrity," he added that "no innocent person will be harmed in the process."

"No person or movement can have an effect on the organization and activities of our army outside the legal hierarchy," he said, referring to the U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen, believed to have been behind the failed seizure of power.

[07] Bahceli calls for permanent political unity against terror; He backs Turkey's operation in Syria

"We have no time to waste for political rivalry and polarization. The Yenikap? conciliation and common will that has been observed in Parliament should be permanent. Let's reconcile, let's agree and let's build the future together," Bacheli said at a press conference on August 29.

Bahceli referred to a massive rally held in Istanbul's Yenikap? Square with the participation of all political parties except for the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) to hail Turkish democracy after the failed coup on July 15.

"Statements like 'I received less votes' or 'I have more Deputies' have lost their meaning. It's time to correct any wrong policies, particularly on Syria," he said, adding that Turkey needed to immediately restore stability and peace inside the country. While praising the government's efforts to cleanse state bodies of Gulenists, Bahceli also said that this process should take place within the boundaries of the rule of law and democratic norms.

"Turkey should not waste this achievement of unity in the name of political gains, Bahceli said", adding: "If we do so, no terror organization can stand against us. This is the government of the Republic of Turkey, although we have different views. Our support will continue."

Bahceli also lent support to the Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) ongoing military operation into Syria and stressed that the scope of the offensive should also stop the Democratic Union Party's (PYD) increase of influence in the region.

"It has been the United States that has most spoiled the PYD," he said, describing the U.S. support of Syrian Kurds as an ill-intentioned move against Turkey.

"The secret agenda of the U.S. is to create a de facto situation in northern Syria and to open a dirty corridor to the Mediterranean Sea by handcuffing Turkey," he argued. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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