Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-05-09

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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] Criticisms against Akinci's statement regarding the "Ottoman march" played by Barbaros vessel

[02] Burcu defends Akinci's earlier remarks on "janissary march"

[03] KTOEOS: "Nobody has the right to do politics with war callings"

[04] "Four warnings in a day for Barbaros"

[05] The occupation regime's ombudsperson called for the "religious courses in the TRNC not to be compulsory but selective"

[06] "Turkish Cypriot journalist union": "Sener Levent has been exposed to medieval practices by Bayrak"

[07] Erdogan congratulates France's Macron on election win

[08] Erdogan: "Turkey aims to boost ties with Arab Gulf states"

[09] Turkey and the EU step up diplomacy after nosedive in relations; Celik to hold contacts in Brussels

[10] Turkey and Germany vow to boost trade as tensions ease

[11] Turkey to build wall on Turkish-Iranian border

[12] Israel responds to Erdogan's criticism on call to prayer ban in Jerusalem

[13] HDP to propose new solution plan for Kurdish question

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Criticisms against Akinci's statement regarding the "Ottoman march" played by Barbaros vessel

Oguz also claimed that Akinci's statement in a way presents the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean as a conflict between Turkey and the Greek Cypriot side and further alleged: "There is not any doubt that the Greek Cypriot side exploits all the opportunities, which obtains as the recognized Republic of Cyprus especially against the Turkish Cypriot people". Under these circumstances, Oguz alleged that they, as "Turkish Cypriot people's spokespersons", have a duty to be the representatives of Turkey and to support it more efficiently. He accused Akinci of holding from time to time a neutral position and giving the impression that he tries to mediate between Turkey and the Greek Cypriot side.

On the same issue, the paper reports that UBP's youth branch, in a written announcement, claimed that the "Greek Cypriot provocations" against the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa vessel, which is conducting seismic research according to the signed agreement between Turkey and the "TRNC", are totally unlimited and a new part of a play to grasp the rights of the Turkish Cypriot "people".

UBP's youth branch further claimed that Barbaros gave a peaceful respond to these provocations with the "janissary march" with a historical warning.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (09.05.17) reports that Erhan Arikli, leader of the Revival Party (YDP), also criticized Akinci's statements by accusing him that he is still playing the game of "blind and deaf" at the Cyprus talks.

(DPs)

[02] Burcu defends Akinci's earlier remarks on "janissary march"

In a written statement, Akinci's spokesman Baris Burcu reminded that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci's determination to protect the Turkish Cypriot people's rights and his stance against the Greek Cypriot side's unilateral hydrocarbon exploration activities are clear and well known.

Stressing that the natural resources around the island of Cyprus are the common wealth of the two "peoples" on the island, Burcu said: "Our President maintains his position that the natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean should not serve as a source of conflict and tension but should be used for the mutual benefit of everyone and cooperation."

Stating that Akinci's efforts towards enabling both "peoples" to benefit from this common wealth have continued from the very first day he took "office", he said that the speech delivered by Akinci at the occupied village of Louroudjina is within this framework.

Stressing that the issue is so important that it should not be used as an instrument to achieve political gains within domestic politics, Burcu said: "Akinci is determined not to enter or engage in daily shallow arguments on the issue. Our president at this stage believes that the people will evaluate foreign minister Ertugruloglu's and the UBP General Secretary Oguz's statements accordingly."

[03] KTOEOS: "Nobody has the right to do politics with war callings"

Stressing the need for an urgent fair and viable solution on the Cyprus problem, Eylem condemned strongly the incident with the Barbaros Hayrettin Passa vessel, which started to play "janissary marches" when the Cyprus authorities warned it that it violates Cyprus' EEC, stating that those who ignore the legal rights of the Turkish Cypriot community have now hope for help from the war.

(AK)

[04] "Four warnings in a day for Barbaros"

Citing reliable information, the paper reports that all the warnings are being sent through radio channel 16, which is open to all vessels. According to the navigation rules, it is forbidden to broadcast music through the above mentioned radio channel. The paper writes that the broadcast of a march through this channel is considered a serious violation of the navigation rule.

According to the paper, the vessel may respond through this radio channel without identifying itself. The paper continues to write according to its source: "In this context, if the mentioned respond was not published as an official statement by Turkey's Ministry of Energy, it would not have come to light the identity or which vessel broadcast the march".

(DPs)

[05] The occupation regime's ombudsperson called for the "religious courses in the TRNC not to be compulsory but selective"

Pointing out that the "textbooks for religious cultures and moral knowledge" which were transferred from Turkey after being re-written by stages and based on age-groups, Dizdarli underlined to the fact that "there is no alternative education for children with different religious beliefs or for children with no religious beliefs. For these reasons, the religious courses should not be compulsory but selective", Dizdarli said.

The so-called ombudsperson has also criticized the so-called ministry of education of acting against the "charter of fundamental rights" and the principles of religious freedom, as it is envisages by the "constitution". "The education provided in all schools is towards the direction of Sunni Islam. This is contrary to the principle of equality of the constitution", Dizdarli further stated.

(AK)

[06] "Turkish Cypriot journalist union": "Sener Levent has been exposed to medieval practices by Bayrak"

As the paper writes, Levent was censored by the illegal Bayrak television for statements he made to BRT during a televised program he attended.

In statements during the meeting, Ozuslu stated that Levent became a victim of a situation which reminds him the "direct censorship" which was implemented in medieval times. Ozuslu stated that their worries over the fact that the recent developments in Turkey will have a reflection in the "country" and that the freedom of press will be limited also in the "TRNC", were proven right. "We have met with all the relevant sides and we will not remain silent. This situation is unacceptable", Ozuslu stated.

Levent on his part thanked the delegation for its support.

(AK)

[07] Erdogan congratulates France's Macron on election win

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Erdogan had held a telephone conversation with Macron.

During the call, Erdogan said the results of the French presidential election had increased hope for the future of the European Union.

Erdogan and Macron also discussed the importance of the relationship between Turkey and the EU, the sources added.

Macron and Erdogan also agreed to meet face-to-face at a NATO Summit scheduled for Brussels later this month.

[08] Erdogan: "Turkey aims to boost ties with Arab Gulf states"

Erdogan, who is expected in Kuwait on May 9, said Ankara was involved in "high level strategic dialogue" with the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the state-run KUNA news agency reported.

Erdogan also confirmed that talks on a free trade zone between Turkey and the GCC were under way.

During his visit, Erdogan and Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah are expected to lay the foundation stone of a $4.3-billion (3.9-billion-euro) airport expansion project awarded to Turkish firm Limak Holding.

The expansion will triple capacity to 25 million passengers over the next six years, and is the largest contract to date for a Turkish company in Kuwait.

Erdogan said that the Turkish firms were involved in projects worth a total $6.5 billion (5.9 billion euro) in the Gulf emirate.

Trade volume between the two countries was $1.3 billion (1.1 billion euro) last year, with Turkish exports representing $431 million (393,625 euro), Erdogan said.

Turkey's trade volume with the GCC states -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE -- is currently around $17 billion (15.5 billion euro), up from $1.7 billion (1.5 billion euro) in 1999.

[09] Turkey and the EU step up diplomacy after nosedive in relations; Celik to hold contacts in Brussels

Celik's talks aim to lay the ground for a planned trilateral meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the EU Council President Donald Tusk on the sidelines of the NATO summit on May 25.

The EU and Turkey hope to leave behind a war of words and draw a road map for improving ties in the current bilateral agenda, which is focused on upgrading the Customs Union and implementing the ongoing refugee deal. Officials from both sides are eager to focus on a more realistic agenda, as opening a new negotiation chapter for Turkey's EU accession process has dropped off the radar of the European Council's December summit.

A planned meeting between Erdogan and the EU officials could set the agenda between Ankara and Brussels and then Ministers and bureaucrats could continue to work on practical issues, a Turkish official told the Hurriyet Daily News on condition of anonymity.

"The EU and Turkey could hold a summit after September, following the election in Germany", the official added.

[10] Turkey and Germany vow to boost trade as tensions ease

Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci told a joint news conference with his German counterpart Brigitte Zypries that the two countries saw huge potential in deeper economic cooperation. "I personally believe that achieving stronger economic relations between Turkey and Germany, with a more solid base and a comprehensive structure, will also become an important instrument for the solution of existing problems", Zeybekci said.

Zypries said that Germany was also eager to enhance economic and trade ties with Turkey, and maintain closer dialogue to discuss political differences. "It is always better to talk to each other, instead of talking about each other," she said.

"I strongly believe that our meeting today is the first step towards a constructive and a fact-oriented dialogue," Zypries added.

The German Minister underlined the importance of the rule of law and a secure legal environment for enhancing economic ties and expanding foreign direct investment in Turkey.

Zeybekci was the first Turkish Minister to visit Berlin after Turkey's April 16 referendum, which had strained ties between Ankara and European capitals.

(?)During Zeybekci's visit on Monday, the Turkish and German delegations agreed to step up preparations for the first Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) meeting between two countries, a major annual gathering which would bring together senior representatives of business sectors from both countries.

The delegations also agreed to gather a Turkish-German Energy Forum in the first half of this year.

The EU heavyweight Germany is Turkey's main economic and trade partner. In 2016, the bilateral trade volume exceeded ?37 billion, and German foreign direct investments reached ?13 billion. Nearly 7,000 German companies are currently active in Turkey.

[11] Turkey to build wall on Turkish-Iranian border

"The PKK has the Maku, Dambat, Navur, Kotr, Keneresh and Sehidan camps inside Iran near the Turkish border. There are some 800-1,000 PKK terrorists in those camps. They enter Turkey, carry out attacks and leave," an official told daily Hurriyet on May 8, adding that they escape to those camps when security operations are conducted in the eastern province of Agr? and the Mount Tendurek region.

"As a precaution against this, we are going to build a wall along 70 kilometers of the border near Agr? and [the eastern province of] Igd?r, and we will close the rest of it with towers and iron fences. In addition, we are placing lights on the border," he also said.

Turkey previously built a wall along the Syrian border in order to prevent the PKK and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from carrying out suicide attacks.

Moreover, cameras will be set up along the highway between the eastern province of Tunceli and the neighboring province of Elaz?g as part of measures against the PKK. The high-level official said activities along the 140-kilometer-long road will be kept under surveillance 24 hours a day.

(?)

The official also talked about the operations carried out against the PKK in cities. "The PKK was sending armed terrorists to city centers in order to put pressure on cities. The gendarmerie and the police coordinated very well. In the last two or three weeks, we determined and neutralized them in the city centers. Furthermore, we immediately intervened when armed drones spotted PKK militants. After that the group started changing its tactics. It took decisions such as, 'Armed militants won't go to the cities, they won't move in groups of 15 or 20, they will travel around in groups of three or four,'" he said.

[12] Israel responds to Erdogan's criticism on call to prayer ban in Jerusalem

"Those who systematically violate human rights in their own country should not preach to the only true democracy in the region. Israel consistently protects total freedom of worship for Jews, Muslims and Christians ? and will continue to do so despite the baseless slander launched against it," the Israeli Ministry said in a statement.

Erdogan had earlier said that Turkey would not allow the call for morning prayers "to be silenced in Jerusalem."

"A draft bill, which aims to ban the call for morning prayers in mosques [in Jerusalem], is still waiting in the Israeli Parliament. The fact that such an issue is even coming to the agenda is shameful. The fact that those who talk about freedom of thought and faith at every opportunity actually approve this step by remaining silent is noteworthy. Inshallah, we will not allow the silencing of prayers from the heavens of Jerusalem," Erdogan said on May 8.

"Why are you afraid of the freedom of faith if you believe in your faith? I am now reminding Israeli administrators: If you believe in your faith, then why are you afraid of the sound of our prayers?" Erdogan further said.

[13] HDP to propose new solution plan for Kurdish question

"Our party will start to prepare a call for democracy which will embrace all segments of the society. This call will be inspired by the Nevruz declarations of 2013, 2014 and 2015 and the Dolmabahce Agreement, which includes all the values required to build a society that will live in harmony," Baydemir said at a press conference after the HDP's Central Executive Board meeting on May 8, referring to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan's declaration, in which he called for a cease-fire and the group's militants to lay down their arms.

The Dolmabahce Agreement, a document outlining a 10 item list of priorities for the resolution of the Kurdish issue, was a meeting attended by former Deputy Prime Minister Yalc?n Akdogan and HDP representatives on February 28, 2015.

Answering a question concerning his reference to the agreement, Baydemir said that the party made calls to those who did not want death, war or monopoly. "This country experienced a conflict-free process. To back that experience, there should be an evaluation of what has and has not been done. But the HDP is a part of the solution. The solution requires the cruel to give up on its cruelty," he said.

Criticizing the government's policy in Syria, Baydemir said the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) should "stop fueling the fire in Syria."

"There were two reasons that transformed the peace process into a conflict. One is refusing to recognize the will of June 7 [2015 general elections], while the other is to enforce animosity against Kurds and quell any Kurdish will to rise in Rojava," he said.

"If the government will give up on fueling the fire in Syria, the doors to peace politics on a domestic level will be opened. This can be initiated. Peace can be reflected on the Middle East," he said.

The HDP will hold its extraordinary congress on May 20 to replace jailed co-chair Figen Yuksekdag after a legal decision stripped her of her seat in Parliament. The party will elect its new co-leader while also stressing on the imprisonment of its co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Yuksekdag along with other members and lawmakers.

Criticizing the constitutional amendment and referendum process, Baydemir stated that the party's "democracy call" will include a plea to initiate a dialogue process to form a new and inclusive Constitution.

Stating that the HDP regards the referendum "illegitimate" in its "content, referendum campaigning and election," Baydemir said the HDP will not participate in "any act that would legitimize the illegitimate referendum."

He added that the party will not participate in any legal parliamentary process that will bring about the constitutional changes. "This discussion is not over. The harmonization laws will not be sufficient to make up for the illegitimacy. If the ruling party wants an example, they should take a look at the Evren Constitution," he said, referring to the Constitution brought by Kenan Evren, the commander-in-chief of the Sep. 12, 1980 military coup.

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(AK/ AM)

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