Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-01-02

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] Daesh terror group claims Istanbul nightclub attack killing 39 people

[02] Erdogan: Istanbul nightclub attack sought to create chaos in Turkey

[03] Turkey's opposition political parties condemned Reina terror attack

[04] Akinci: Usually the most difficult issues remain for the end, therefore our job will not be easy in Geneva

[05] New Year messages by Siber, Ozgurgun and Denktas

[06] Ban sent letter to Akinci

[07] Ozgurgun is carrying out contacts in Ankara

[08] Ozgurgun: It is out of question to give up on coasts and Morphou

[09] Serdar Denktas will take part in the Geneva meeting

[10] Candan on the Cyprus problem

[11] Attacks against KTOS because of 2017 calendar continue; Elcil replies to the attackers

[12] Arikli accused Akinci of making concessions; "Some persons with state power are working for a plan B'"

[13] Opposition CHP accused Turkey of making excessive concessions on the Cyprus problem

[14] Commentary: "Why is NATO member Turkey acting with Russia in Syria?"

[15] More than eight thousand workers from third countries are employed in the occupied area of Cyprus

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Daesh terror group claims Istanbul nightclub attack killing 39 people

An armed assailant opened fire at the popular nightclub in Istanbul on Saturday night and escaped afterwards. 24 of the attack's victims were identified to be foreigners, 11 were Turkish citizens while four victims still remain to be identified, officials said later on Sunday.

Seven Saudi Arabian, two Indian, one Canadian, one Syrian, one Israeli, two Moroccan, one Lebanese, one Belgian and four Iraqi nationals were killed, according to latest statements.

The Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said that 65 people are in hospitals, receiving treatment, and added that "4 of those injured are in a critical condition. One of them is severely injured".

Turkish police forces continue with the manhunt for the assailant, who is yet to be unidentified.

Previous reports had suggested that the assailant was dressed in a Santa Claus costume, however, Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m dismissed the claims.

According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 02.01.17), the jihadist group said in a statement: "In continuation of the blessed operations that the Islamic State is conducting against the protector of the cross, Turkey, a heroic soldier of the caliphate struck one of the most famous nightclubs where the Christians celebrate their apostate holiday".

[02] Erdogan: Istanbul nightclub attack sought to create chaos in Turkey

"Those aiming at the peace of our nation, and their pawns, are working to destabilize our country and trigger chaos by demoralizing our people through their heinous attacks that also target civilians," Erdogan said in a statement on the presidency website.

"However, we, as the nation, will never give passage to these dirty games, further uniting together and preserving our calmness."

Erdogan said the "brutal attack" in Istanbul clearly showed that terror does not discriminate but "aims to shed blood, claims lives and hurt people," vowing that Turkey would continue its fight against terrorism. "We are aware that these attacks, carried out by various terror organizations against our country, are not independent from incidents happening in our region," he added.

"We are determined to eradicate threats and attacks against our country at their source."

Erdogan said the fight against terrorism, and "the powers behind them", will continue with determination.

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (01.01.17) reported that Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said that terrorism "cannot intimidate" the Turkish people, in a briefing in Istanbul on Sunday afternoon after he visited several victims injured in the nightclub attack.

[03] Turkey's opposition political parties condemned Reina terror attack

"Terrorist organizations that directly attack our daily lives and habits and aim to shatter our endless trust and love for our country will not achieve their goals. We will eliminate terrorist organizations with the strength of our solidarity, our rooted democracy and secularism," Kilicdaroglu said in a written statement.

He also criticized the government for not taking sufficient security measures after a series of deadly attacks hit Turkey. "Our country has long become an open target for terrorist organizations. Whichever steps the government takes, terror attacks cannot be prevented. Statements and precautions after every terror attack have encouraged terrorists for their next attacks," he said.

"The reason for this situation is that the government is not rationalistic, scientific and sustainable in its anti-terror policies. On the other hand, the fact that authorities are not held accountable for nor resigning from office also creates a weakness in the fight," he added.

Moreover, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, commenting on the deadly terror attack in Istanbul's Reina nightclub said that reverting to old methods in the fight against terrorism is meaningless.

"The systematic and periodical murders of terrorism will not stop in 2017 either. Insisting on old habits and already-tested methods are meaningless," Bahceli said on his official Twitter account.

"You cannot achieve different results by doing the same thing. Along with classic precautions and security policies, a full-scale pressure should be put on terror", he added.

Bahceli also said there should be a need for a mutual mind and national unity for the existence of the country, instead of engaging in a condemnation race against terror.

He said the country's future, national unity and independence have been targeted with terror attacks, adding that the entire nation is "at the bottom of the bloody barrel."

He stressed that terrorists and terror organizations are puppets hiding behind their monster powers plotting against Turkey and the Middle East, while adding that they will not be able to divide the country, no matter what they do.

Furthermore, the Kurdish issue-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) on Jan. 1 condemned the armed attack that targeted New Year revellers at a nightclub in central Istanbul.

The HDP said that it "cursed this inhumane attack", while also criticizing the Directorate of Religious Affairs' (Diyanet) Friday sermon on Dec. 30.

"Our concern is deepened by the irresponsible politicians who uttered phrases targeting New Year celebrations, and the Friday sermon of the Diyanet that described New Year celebrations as 'actions that do not comply with our values and are illegitimate with no benefit to human life'."

[04] Akinci: Usually the most difficult issues remain for the end, therefore our job will not be easy in Geneva

He also said: "In the discussions which we will be conducting by 11 January we will negotiate in order to be able to lead the issues we consider as important to a point of agreement. On 11 January, the two sides will submit their maps and on the very next day, on 12 January, the discussion of the issues of security and guarantees will begin with the participation of the guarantor powers. […] We are going to Geneva with a mentality and determination, which does not ignore the other community's legitimate rights, but defends until the end our own communal rights".

Akinci noted that even though the framework of the solution was not achieved in 2016, an important opportunity for drawing the desirable solution framework is created in the first half of 2017, with the convention of a conference for Cyprus in which all interested parties will participate. He said that during the past 19 months further progress was achieved in the negotiations within the framework of the agreement of 11 February 2014 and added that in Geneva they will exert effort to solve the remaining issues.

"The issues which remain for the end are usually the most difficult ones. Therefore, of course, our job will not be easy in Geneva. Just like it is happening until today, we will be in close cooperation and consultation with Turkey during this effort", he added.

According to Akinci, if everything develops positively in Geneva and a framework on which both sides agree comes out, the time of "filling up this framework" will come with the preparation of the federal constitution, the constitutions of the founding states, the federal laws and issues regarding the practical implementation of the solution. Afterwards, the necessary preparation for briefing the communities will take place, he noted, adding that the communities will decide in a sounder manner after they are briefed. He argued that some circles in the Greek Cypriot community and Greece, which do not accept the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, have established a "rejectionist front" and added that some circles in the Turkish Cypriot community and Turkey have launched a campaign in favor of voting "no" in the referendum before even we have an agreement on some important elements of the solution.

(I/Ts.)

[05] New Year messages by Siber, Ozgurgun and Denktas

Siber in her message expressed the hope that the year 2017 will be a year without many pains. She also expressed the hope that a viable solution will be reached on the Cyprus issue.

Ozgurgun in his message expressed the hope that the year 2017 will be better and that as the "government" they aim to strengthen the "country" and increase prosperity through the projects that they will bring to life in the New Year.

Noting that the agenda of 2016 had been very busy and intense Ozgurgun alleged that since they came to power they have been focusing on overcoming the problems.

Denktas said that the year 2016 had been a tough year for Cyprus and expressed the hope that 2017 will be a year of stability and security.

[06] Ban sent letter to Akinci

The UN Secretary General sent a letter to Akinci thanking him for his determined stance, cooperation and personal efforts he has made towards the Cyprus solution process.

In the letter the UN Secretary General expressed his belief that a solution is possible on the island and that such a development would bring peace and prosperity to the "peoples" on the island.

Noting that the problem has been continuing for so long, the UN Secretary General noted that the two leaders were very close to finding a solution.

In a letter of response Akinci expressed his pleasure at the efforts the UN Secretary General has shown towards the Cyprus problem especially at such a critical phase the Cyprus negotiations process has reached. He added that he will continue to work so that this historical opportunity will not be missed.

Akinci also wished the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who has completed his 10 year term in office success and wished him a happy new year.

[07] Ozgurgun is carrying out contacts in Ankara

The latest stage reached in the Cyprus negotiations process and bilateral relations between the two "countries" was taken up during the meeting held at the Cankaya Palace.

No statement was issued before or after the meeting which was held closed to the press.

Ozgurgun will also meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace at 1pm and the meeting will focus on the Cyprus negotiations process and bilateral relations between Turkey and the "TRNC".

[08] Ozgurgun: It is out of question to give up on coasts and Morphou

Speaking on a televised program, Ozgurgun said that Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has shown great interest in the Cyprus issue since he has come to power in 2002 and has made crucial statements on the issue.

He claimed that if the Greek Cypriot side had understood these statements then today in Cyprus a solution could have prevailed.

Claiming that they will not be giving on the Morphou issue and that the "government's" stance on this subject is very clear, Ozgurgun argued that the Erdogan and Akinci's stance on this issue are also very clear.

He claimed that "it is out of question to give up on especially the coasts and the Morphou area" and argued: "Akinci said that there would be some rearrangements on territory but this too is a radical step. The Greek Cypriots will also have to show similar steps. If the Greek Cypriots show reciprocal steps only then can a framework emerge".

Explaining that more than 80% of the Turkish Cypriots have sensitivities on the security issue, Ozgurgun gave the example of Syria and said that people are more aware of the problems now and that Akinci is also aware of this fact.

Reiterating the need for the Greek Cypriot side to take similar steps Ozgurgun said "at the end of the day Turkey has accepted to discuss this issue and that in itself is a step".

Referring to the upcoming Cyprus summit in Geneva, Ozgurgun said that he would be representing the National Unity Party (UBP) in Geneva, as well as "deputy prime minister finance minister" Denktas.

"Although we have concerns that the government will be left without its leaders we will take steps to overcome this problem during that time", Ozgurgun concluded.

[09] Serdar Denktas will take part in the Geneva meeting

The Democrat Party will be represented by its leader "deputy prime minister finance minister" Serdar Denktas in Geneva.

According to a statement released by the DP, the party's assembly discussed the Cyprus negotiation process and took a decision to attend the Cyprus summit in Geneva and its leader Serdar Denktas will represent the party at the summit.

The DP leader will observe the talks but noted that what the leaders will discuss in Geneva is still not clear.

Referring to the confusion regarding who will take part in the five-party conference, Denktas said that they, as the Democratic Party, are very uncomfortable due to the contradictory statements made regarding the parties who will attend the talks in Geneva.

He said that taking part in the talks without seeing a draft agreement is not very healthy and added that they had asked for a draft agreement from the Turkish Cypriot leader. He further alleged: "If we are very close to a solution then a draft agreement must be available. If there isn't a draft agreement then a solution is not close either".

"Those who are laughing at me because I wanted to see a draft agreement should actually be laughing at themselves", Denktas argued and claimed that the public is being misinformed.

[10] Candan on the Cyprus problem

Supporting that in both sides in the island there is an effort to create the impression that "we only give something but we don't take anything in exchange".

Referring to the forthcoming Geneva talks, Candan stressed the need for all involved parties, the two sides in Cyprus, the guarantor countries, the UN and the other international actors to be concentrated towards an effort to reach a positive outcome from the talks.

Candan argued also that the EU has stated several times that it will accept any solution providing that it will be agreed by both sides in the island and claimed also that many support that the unilateral accession of the Cyprus to the EU was a mistake.

Referring to the natural gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, Candan said: "Nobody shall consider that they would wait forever for the solution of the Cyprus problem in order to evaluate the natural gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. The EU, Turkey and Israel need this cooperation. Not only the Turkish Cypriots but the Greek Cypriots as well do not have the luxury to stay out of this equation. We could become players in this equation if we finally reach to a solution on the Cyprus problem during the next months. Otherwise, we will be left with no other choices and opportunities and with the situation we were forced to live for years", Candan said.

(…)

(AK)

[11] Attacks against KTOS because of 2017 calendar continue; Elcil replies to the attackers

Meanwhile, Afrika reports also that some "pirates of the internet" hacked KTOS' website and wrote on it TMT's oath [Translator's note: The Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT) is a terrorist organization established in the 1950's accused of the murders of both Turkish and Greek Cypriots]. The paper criticizes the Turkish Cypriot political parties and the Trade Union Platform, which said nothing to support KTOS against the attacks.

Afrika writes that only the Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP) issued a statement noting that the realities are written in KTOS' calendar.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (31.12.16) reported that Tufan Erhurman, chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) expressed the view that the discussions started regarding KTOS' calendar are not carried out at the right time, on the right basis and with the right style. Arguing that many allegations exist regarding what happened in Cyprus history, Erhurman said that their agenda now is how they will prepare for the Geneva talks in the best manner and how they will contribute in the efforts of the leaders and the guarantor powers. Therefore, he added, the CTP met in the morning with the US Ambassador to Nicosia and conveyed to her "the sensitivities of our party and of the Turkish Cypriot people".

The same paper reports also that the "vice president" of the "assembly", Huseyin Alanli described as "insult to our history" KTOS' calendar and alleged that Sener Elcil does not represent the Turkish Cypriot teachers.

Finally, the chairman of TMT fighters' association, Yilmaz Bora asked for "legal proceedings" with the aim of confiscating KTOS' calendar.

(I/Ts.)

[12] Arikli accused Akinci of making concessions; "Some persons with state power are working for a plan B'"

Speaking during a televised program, Arikli stated that some persons are trying to train them to accept the idea of the "Turkish Cypriot state". He also expressed the view that the issue of the map may lead to the corruption of the talks in Geneva.

Accusing the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci of making concessions on the Cyprus problem, Arikli claimed: "It is impossible to reach to an agreement on Morfou or other areas. The ropes can break. […]. It is Akinci who made concessions. The leader of the Greek Cypriot administration has not made any concessions. Anastasiades can speak comfortably but Akinci cannot. Since it is the side which made concessions it would be better to keep silence. Anastasiades is in a position of a pre-election campaign".

(AK)

[13] Opposition CHP accused Turkey of making excessive concessions on the Cyprus problem

Yilmaz went on stressing the need for the solution to the Cyprus problem to be fair and just.

(AK)

[14] Commentary: "Why is NATO member Turkey acting with Russia in Syria?"

"The Turkish military announced on Dec. 30 that Russian jets hit positions of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) near the Syrian town of al-Bab.

Official sources say the ISIL targets were marked by Turkish Special Forces carrying out an operation to take the town from ISIL hands. Military sources also said they hit an ISIL convoy and an ISIL chief named Abu Husen Tunusi was in the destroyed convoy in air raids on Dec. 29. They added that Tunusi and his team were sent by ISIL to al-Bab from Raqqa as reinforcements.

It seems that the operation or operations took place right after statements on Dec. 29 in Ankara, Moscow and Damascus about the declaration of a ceasefire between forces loyal to the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria and against it from midnight on Dec. 29. Turkey and Russia are acting as guarantors of the cease-fire, which excludes the forces of ISIL and al-Nusra.

The announcement on Dec. 30 raises the bar of the military cooperation between Russia and Turkey, a member of NATO and also a member of the U.S.-led coalition against ISIL. It also comes at a time when tension between the U.S. and Russia is rising on security and intelligence matters.

On the day when the ceasefire in the nearly six-year-old Syrian civil war was announced, the outgoing Barack Obama administration in the U.S. declared 35 Russian diplomats "persona non grata" over cyber-security and intelligence crimes and asked them to leave the country within three days. The next day, on Dec. 30, Russia moved to expel 35 American diplomats from Russia in retaliation. These were typical Cold War moves, rarely seen since the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1992. When combined with Obama's recent move against Israel at the U.N., despite the $38 billion donation before the presidential elections, the Russia move shows clearly that Obama wants to make life more difficult for his successor Donald Trump by shaking the pillars of U.S. foreign policy.

The Turkish-Russian joint military operation in Syria against ISIL in al-Bab is interesting because President Tayyip Erdogan claimed earlier in the week that the U.S. refused to give air support for Turkish attacks on ISIL to take al-Bab, thus indirectly helping ISIL. Erdogan also said the U.S. aid to the Central Command's (CENTCOM) ground partner the Democratic Union Party (PYD) - the Syria extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), currently engaged in a fight with Turkey – was continuing. When the U.S. Embassy in Ankara issued a statement to refute the allegations, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu retorted that the government held "evidence" of the continued aid.

One of the ironies is that one of the main operating bases of the U.S.-led operation against ISIL is the strategic Turkish air base Incirlik. 'Whenever we need air support, we ask the joint command center for coalition support', a Turkish military source recently told the Hurriyet Daily News. "They in turn ask Incirlik, but every time the reply is that it is either 'not a priority' or 'there are bad weather conditions." It is a big disappointment for us.'

The reason why the U.S. is not giving air support to Turkey for al-Bab is its conflict of interest with the PYD. Turkey's Euphrates Shield Operation in Syria, together with the Free Syria Army (FSA), has two current targets: One being to take al-Bab from ISIL and the other being to not let the town fall into the hands of the PYD. Ankara doesn't want the PKK to take advantage of the power vacuum in Syria and its cooperation with the U.S. in order to form a corridor along its border, for which it could claim autonomy or independence in the future.

Now it seems that Turkey has gotten the air support it wants - indeed the political support it wants – for the al-Bab operation from Russia, its adversary in NATO.

So the question is: Why on earth has a NATO country gotten into military cooperation with Russia in Syria?

The answer is: Because it believes another NATO country, the U.S., fails to give its ally the support it needs to defeat a terrorist force (ISIL) as soon as possible. It fails to give that support because of the disadvantage it could give its partner (the PYD), which is an extension of an outlawed organization (the PKK), which is considered to be a terrorist group by both the ally and itself.

Complicated, isn't it?

A bit. Perhaps that is why Turkish Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m told daily Hurriyet on Dec. 30 that Ankara expected U.S. President-elect Trump to take a more active stance in the fight against terrorism, and for peace and stability in the Middle East."

[15] More than eight thousand workers from third countries are employed in the occupied area of Cyprus

Citing sources from the "ministry of labor and social insurance", the paper writes that these workers come from countries such as Pakistan, India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. These people are "illegally" employed and brutally exploited as no social insurance is paid for them and when they are fired they are punished and victimized. Some employers pay social insurance for their foreign workers on the basis of the minimum wage, but pay them less than the minimum wage, writes the paper.

(I/Ts.) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

(DPs / AM)

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