Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-09-30

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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] Akinci spoke after returning from New York; He reiterated the need for a "Camp-David summit" to take place

[02] Izcan called Akinci to remain calm and implement his "pre-election promises"

[03] Durduran accuses Akinci and Anastasiades of creating a false image of progress at the negotiations

[04] The "TRNC citizenship" was granted to five more persons

[05] Erdogan says Treaty that formed modern Turkey presented as though it was a victory

[06] Erdogan's remarks on Treaty that formed modern Turkey irk opposition

[07] "What's wrong with the Lausanne Treaty?"

[08] Erdogan, Merkel discuss Syria

[09] Extension of state of emergency to benefit people, President Erdogan says

[10] Turkey, Saudi Arabia to boost cooperation on terrorism

[11] Turkey 'all for' cooperation with Russia on Syria

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci spoke after returning from New York; He reiterated the need for a "Camp-David summit" to take place

Supporting that the time of "delaying tactics" towards the solution of the Cyprus has been exceeded a long time ago, Akinci argued that the fact that they want a timetable and a roadmap in the negotiation process, means that they want a solution. Pointing out those who say no to a timetable does not really want a solution, Akinci said: "No matter what it is said, there is a timetable and this was set naturally".

Stating that it is possible the negotiation process to continue on October 4, Akinci added that they will intensified their works in order to complete and close the issues remained opened in the 4 chapters.

Referring to the phone conversation he held the other night with the UN's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Akinci said that Ban has a very clear roadmap in his mind and also realizes how important the factor of "time" at the negotiation process is. Akinci added that the UN's Secretary General reaffirmed his intention to be by the side of the two leaders during the next three months and before the end of his term. Arguing that they will continue the negotiation process following a "realistic and reasonable line" for the solution, Akinci added that if they will not achieve to reach to a solution, then the Turkish Cypriot "people" will make an evaluation and will undertake the necessary steps. "However, let's focus today on the positive scenario since it would be shame for something that can be achieved, to be missed. Probably we will not have again this chance. [?]. Therefore, in the next three months, we should exert efforts to be positive and behave positively and try to establish a structure that we will be able to live in equality, security and freedom", Akinci said.

Explaining that on October 3 he will be attending the "opening session" of the so-called assembly, he added that the negotiation process will be consist most probably of three stages, with the first stage to launch probably on October 4. "We will set a schedule for our meetings and afterwards we will launch intensified talks in order to arrange the issues that remained open", Akinci said, adding also the following: "The next stage should be of the format of camping where the territory issue will be discussed in details. It is preferable to be discussed in this type and not in Cyprus but abroad. We had never evaluated the issue of security and guarantees and the territory issue as issues of the five partite summit. We've never had this demand and wish nor have we made such a proposal".

Arguing once more that the Greek Cypriot press publishes "exaggerative and speculative reports", Akinci reiterated the view that it is not possible to discuss the territory issue in such an environment and alleged that it is for this reason that they want a different format in the talks. Stating that right after this process, their goal is to reach to a solution with a five-party meeting during which the issue of security and guarantees will be discussed, he added: "If we cannot reach a solution, ultimately, we should explain this to our communities and the international world".

Akinci reiterated also that the Turkish Cypriot side wants certainly to see the rotating presidency in a possible solution and added that it considers this as an "important element of the political equality and of their effective participation on the decision-making system".

Replying to a question, Akinci explained that he had never said to the UN's Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide that they "were deceived". He explained that prior to their departure for New York, they had a common approach on the message they would sent to the Secretary-General, they decided to launch preparation for a five-party meeting under the condition of reaffirming this after completing first their work in Cyprus, and argued that President Anastasiades took steps backward since he was affected by the "National Council and the opposition front".

Akinci stated further that he cannot ignore the attacks which are conducted by some groups, called "small ones" such as ELAM. Pointing out that ELAM is represented in the Parliament in the "south", he added that those groups were not yet got punished.

(AK)

[02] Izcan called Akinci to remain calm and implement his "pre-election promises"

Reminding of the fact that Akinci won the "elections" having a serious "manifesto", Izcan called the Turkish Cypriot leader not to lose his calmness and continue standing behind his promises. "The most mistaken thing at this stage is to use the method of threats against the other community and to follow a separatist path", added Izcan.

(AK)

[03] Durduran accuses Akinci and Anastasiades of creating a false image of progress at the negotiations

Durduran, who evaluated the Cyprus talks, accused the two leaders of Cyprus of trying to create a false picture of progress at the negotiations, while they only discussed "easy issues" of the Cyprus problem. "They play this game willingly", he claimed.

He also said that the developments show that there is no clear indication on when a solution will be reached and stated that at this point the UN and the international community should be given guarantees from the two sides in Cyprus that they can reach a deal.

(CS)

[04] The "TRNC citizenship" was granted to five more persons

According to a decision issued at the "official gazette" of the breakaway regime in the occupied are of Cyprus, the persons, who have been granted "TRNC citizenship" by a "decision" of the "council of ministers" on September 22, 2016, are the following:

? Asiye Hale Kivrikoglu, born in Istanbul in 1954

? Ismail Altug Koyagasi, born in Istanbul in 1970

? Cem Sunman, born in Istanbul in 1958

? Mustafa Atacan Erpek, born in Ankara in 1984

? Aybars Kutluba, born in Istanbul in 1974

(DPs)

[05] Erdogan says Treaty that formed modern Turkey presented as though it was a victory

"July 15 is the second War of Independence for the Turkish nation. Let us know it like that. They [threatened] us with Sevres in 1920 and persuaded us to [accept] Lausanne in 1923. Some tried to deceive us by presenting Lausanne as victory. At Lausanne, we gave away the [now-Greek] islands that you could shout across to," Erdogan said Sept. 29 at his 27th gathering with village chiefs in Ankara.

"We are still struggling about what the continental shelf will be, and what will be in the air and the land. The reason for this is those who sat at the table for that Treaty. Those who sat there did not do [us] justice, and we are reaping those troubles right now. If this coup had succeeded, they would have given us a Treaty that would have made us long for Sevres," he said.

Signed on July 24, 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne, which was signed by Ismet Inonu, who later succeeded Mustafa Kemal Ataturk as President, is regarded as the final Treaty concluding World War I that secured the foundation of the modern Republic of Turkey after the War of Independence against the occupying forces of Britain, France, Italy and Greece. The Treaty recognized the boundaries of Turkey as well as the conditions under which non-Muslim minorities would live in the new republic.

[06] Erdogan's remarks on Treaty that formed modern Turkey irk opposition

Pointing to the historic significance of the Treaty, CHP Ankara deputy Gulsun Bilgehan said Lausanne was the title deed of the Turkish Republic.

"Erdogan can learn the importance of Lausanne from the cabinet meetings which he chairs these days. Because Lausanne is the title deed of the Turkish Republic and a certificate of honor for those who signed it as Mr. Erdogan said in his message. In his speech today, he said 'They cannot make us take one step back even if the whole world comes together.' I invite him to read a real history book based on documents telling about Lausanne and Ismet Pasha [Inonu] to learn how it was made," Bilgehan said in a written statement.

In addition, CHP Istanbul Deputy Gursel Tekin also condemned the president's remarks on Lausanne, describing them as a "great shame."

"I listened to Mr President in dismay. It is extremely saddening that he disregarded a significant process such as Lausanne. The fact that he brings an important victory up for discussion is a great shame and I strongly reject it. I evaluate it as very inappropriate," Tekin said.

Meanwhile, CHP Istanbul Deputy Mahmut Tanal stated that discussing the Treaty of Lausanne amounted to saying "yes" to capitulations and colonialism, adding that Turkey would have ended up like Syria, Afghanistan or Pakistan without the Treaty.

[07] "What's wrong with the Lausanne Treaty?"

"The Lausanne Treaty was signed on July 24, 1923, in order to ratify the peace between the occupying United Kingdom, France, Italy and Greece (together with their allies) and Turkey following the Turkish War of Independence, which also ended the sultanate regime of the Ottoman dynasty of nearly six centuries. Mustafa Kemal (later Ataturk), as the leader of the independence war, declared the new regime a republic a few months after the Lausanne Treaty on Oct. 29, 1923, transferring the capital from Istanbul to Ankara, which was the headquarters of the Turkish revolution.

In Lausanne, Turkey's sovereign borders were settled, especially the western borders, particularly with Greece and Bulgaria. The borders with Iraq acquired their current shape with a separate agreement in 1926 (which is one of the main reasons for the Kurdish problem now) and the borders with Syria were fixed after the annexation of Hatay through a plebiscite in 1938. Kemalists and the newly found Soviet Union had already signed a non-aggression pact in 1921 to fix the border (now with Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan), and the border with Iran has not changed since 1639 anyway. In a way, the Lausanne Treaty was the first indication of the new Turkey.

Turkey was represented by Ismet (Inonu) during the Lausanne talks. As the last chief of staff of the Ottoman armies who defected to the Kemal-led nationalist armies after the War of Independence started, Inonu was the commander of the armies which pushed the invading Greek armies back to the Aegean Sea. Inonu was the second President of Turkey after Ataturk and despite being an observant Muslim himself, was known to be a staunch secularist, separating religion from state affairs, meaning he was never liked by conservative and Islamist circles in Turkey.

President Tayyip Erdogan, who has always criticized the Lausanne Treaty because he believes it fell short of fulfilling the needs of Turkey, raised the bar further in a speech he delivered on Sept. 29. In the speech, Erdogan made an analogy between the bloody coup attempt of July 15 and the collapse of the Turkish empire with the ? never implemented ? Treaty of Sevres, which was forced on the last Ottoman sultan, Vahdettin, but rejected by the Kemalists. Then Erdogan said that "for years, they" ? they meaning the founder fathers of the republic and their rhetoric in later generations ? "have tried to show Lausanne as a victory to us by comparing it with the Treaty of Sevres." He continued on to say that the Aegean islands from which one can shout across to from Turkey were given to Greece.

Baskin Oran, a political scientist, immediately said those islands were not given by the new regime in Turkey to Greece but by the Ottoman sultan back in 1913. And according to Ilber Ortayli, an internationally renowned historian, it was not possible to talk about any defeat or victory for either of the parties; it was an agreement through a compromise like any other international agreement.

But the historical facts are secondary to the matter here when it is about Lausanne in Turkey. The Lausanne Treaty has always be seen as a symbol of the guarantee of Turkish independence and sovereignty by not only secularists but also by nationalists and modernist republicans.

Actually, it was Erdogan himself who had described it as a "victory" in his message for the 93rd anniversary of the Treaty on July 24, only a week after the coup attempt, adding that the Treaty was the "deed of our new state." In the same message, Erdogan also made the correlation between the spirit of the War of Independence and the spirit of July 15 against the coup attempt. That message was actually welcomed by not only the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) but also by the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in the opposition, which found that harmony with the cross-party and societal unity against the coup attempt. It is hard to understand the essence of Erdogan's Lausanne remark and, more precisely, what is wrong with Lausanne itself after so many years."

[08] Erdogan, Merkel discuss Syria

According to the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, Erdogan gave information to Merkel on Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria.

Erdogan and Merkel also discussed recent developments in Aleppo, the wider Syrian issue and the fight against terrorism, the sources added.

[09] Extension of state of emergency to benefit people, President Erdogan says

Addressing village headmen at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on Thursday, Erdogan underscored that the state of emergency was declared only to strengthen counterterrorism measures and will be extended to continue the fight. "In the past period of over two months, the state of emergency was used to enhance the efficiency in counterterrorism. It increases our speed in the fight against FETO and other terrorist groups," he asserted.

The Turkish President added that the MGK advised the extension, which the government will assess in the upcoming days. He did not rule out the possibility that it might be further extended after another three months.

[10] Turkey, Saudi Arabia to boost cooperation on terrorism

Yildirim said the two nations would promote the "Turk-Saudi Coordination Council" within the body of foreign ministries and "institutionalize" the ties more as he recalled King Salman's visit to Turkey in April and that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had discussed joint interests and worked on strengthening relations.

According to the sources, bin Nayef highlighted the "key role" of Turkey and Saudi Arabia's cooperation in regard to regional peace and security.

Muhammad bin Nayef later Thursday met Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. "These visits show the solidarity and support to Turkey, we thank him [bin Nayef] for this," Cavusoglu said.

[11] Turkey 'all for' cooperation with Russia on Syria

"If Russia sincerely wants to cooperate with us [on Syria] for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid, we are all for it," he said. He spoke in the Turkish capital at a joint news conference with his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkevics.

Cavusoglu said Turkey was evaluating these issues with the Russian authorities after the normalization of relations between Ankara and Moscow earlier this summer.

Recalling Russian statements about possible joint action with Turkey on Syria, Cavusoglu said Ankara supported all decisions toward a political solution in the war-torn country.

However, Cavusoglu went on to say the Syrian regime and its supporters were behind recent violations of the U.S./Russia-brokered ceasefire plus obstacles preventing the flow of humanitarian aid.

He accused the Damascus regime and its supporters of continuously using chemical weapons and barrel bombs against the Syrian people over the last five years.

"We need to continue our efforts for a political solution and ceasefire since the last agreement failed to be implemented," Cavusoglu said.

Speaking about Turkey's defeated July 15 coup plot, Cavusoglu said the Turkish people had rebutted a move which would have had implications not only in Turkey but in a broader geography, including Europe.

He thanked Latvia for the solidarity shown during and after the failed coup. "During this period Latvia showed it is a real friend and ally," Cavusoglu said.

Cavusoglu further said that Turkey and Latvia are in close cooperation in the fight against terror and in this framework he had informed his counterpart about the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in Latvia.

Rinkevics expressed Latvia's support for the democratically elected Turkish government and its President.

"We have received information from the Turkish embassy and we passed them to the relevant authorities in Riga. We received additional information today," Rinkevics said.

He said Latvia would take necessary measures against the FETO once evidence of its wrongdoings and violations of Latvian law were examined. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/AM)

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