Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-06-20

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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] Yildirim says that the Cyprus Conference in Switzerland is not the end of the road

[02] Ertugruloglu evaluated the upcoming Cyprus conference with Cavusoglu in Ankara

[03] CHP Deputy Chairman Yilmaz stated that Turkey is alone on the Cyprus issue

[04] Tatar claims that the Turkish Cypriots want the continuation of the Turkish guarantees in Cyprus

[05] Columnist says that the Cyprus Conference should start with the guarantees

[06] Asil Nadir to make a big investment at illegal Lefkonoiko airport with the help of UBP

[07] The "assembly" will be informed regarding the protocol of the construction of a new "penal institute" in the occupied area of Cyprus

[08] Fifteen applications daily for medical examinations aiming to apply for "citizenships" in the breakaway regime

[09] Y?ld?r?m held a joint press conference with Tsipras; Turkey wants a fresh start with the EU

[10] Erdogan to visit Germany next month for the G20 summit

[11] EU Commissioner Hahn to visit Turkey on July 6

[12] Russia names Alexei Yerkhov as new Ambassador to Turkey

[13] Court rejected appeal against jailing CHP Deputy Berberoglu

[14] Rosatom plans to sell Akkuyu project stake to Turkish conglomerate

[15] Remains of pesticides in fruits and vegetables put health in danger in the breakaway regime

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Yildirim says that the Cyprus Conference in Switzerland is not the end of the road

Asked to comment on UNSG's Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide's statement that the conference in Switzerland will be the end of the road, Yildirim said: "Life ends, the road does not end. If you want to go, there is definitely a way to go always. We want a solution, but it should not be forgotten that this matter is not an issue of the UN. It is an issue of the Turkish Cypriot community and the Greek Cypriot community. The UN contributes to the solution. […] With our position as guarantor powers, deriving from past agreements, as the Prime Ministers of Turkey and Greece we decided to offer every kind of positive contribution needed for achieving a solution and we will continue working in this direction".

Referring to the energy resources in Eastern Mediterranean, Yildirim claimed that these are a "common legacy of the mankind" and that during their use the "rights of the north and the south of Cyprus", as he described the Turkish occupied part and the government-controlled area of the island, should be protected".

He added the following: "We know that the Cyprus problem is an issue which should be solved both for Turkey and for Greece. We are thinking positively. The result which will be produced should be fair, ensure the fair co-administration and guarantee the future security of the communities living on the island. The solution should ensure the guarantees needed from the point of view of EU-Turkey relations and from the point of view of EU-United Cyprus relations. We had the opportunity to discuss that more work and effort is needed on this issue. I said that this should be directed towards a united Cyprus within the framework of the UN Resolutions and the benefits of the EU. I said that a solution aiming at the security of the peoples of Cyprus should be found and that this should be materialized without the interference of third powers".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ertugruloglu evaluated the upcoming Cyprus conference with Cavusoglu in Ankara

During the meeting held at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the two men evaluated the upcoming Cyprus Conference in Crans-Montana.

For his part, Cavusoglu claimed: "We are always ready. We earlier announced that the conference should convene without any preconditions. We also said that we will not accept the preconditions put forward by the Greek Cypriot side. But of course we see this as a final conference."

"Noting that the security and guarantees, territory, governance and power sharing, property and all other issues including the four freedoms of Turkish citizens in Cyprus will be discussed simultaneously at the conference", Cavusoglu also said that the Turkish side will go to Crans-Montana with confidence and will claim its "rights" as it did at the conference on the 12th of January.

Ertugruloglu for his part allegedly expressed the "sensitivity of the TRNC government and people on the continuation of the active and effective guarantee of Turkey besides other chapters at the Cyprus negotiations process".

"I want to repeat once again that a guarantee system which will not include our motherland's unilateral right of intervention will not be a guarantee system. I want to stress that as the TRNC government we are tremendously determined and persistent on this issue", Ertugruloglu claimed.

Supporting that all other chapters were also vital and important, Ertugruloglu alleged that he did not accept the statements that Turkey's guarantee causes insecurity for the Greek Cypriot side.

"None of the policies of the Turkish side or Turkey's guarantee rights had not been and will never be an issue which caused insecurity for the Greek Cypriot side. The peace operation in 1974 was a result of a coup attempt and Enosis tendency of the Greek Cypriot side. Therefore, it is unworthy for anyone in the Turkish side to give credit to arguments like 'Turkey's guarantee causes insecurity for us'. On the territory issue the statements of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a basis for us", Ertugruloglu further alleged.

Underlining that "they will not accept any formula on the other four chapters which carry the risk for the Turkish Cypriot "people" to be dominated by the Greek Cypriot side and which will not be based on sovereignty and political equality", he also alleged the following: "We are talking about an agreement which will not ignore the Turkish citizens' four freedoms rights and which will guarantee that Cyprus will not be Greek as it was never before".

"If they are ready for such an agreement we are ready too, if not each side will go its own way" added Ertugruloglu.

[03] CHP Deputy Chairman Yilmaz stated that Turkey is alone on the Cyprus issue

Speaking at a press conference in the Turkish Parliament, Yilmaz noted that the developments in Syria have alienated Turkey significantly from the (political) scene. He explained that if you take under consideration the decision of the Iraqi Kurds to hold an independence referendum, the developments in Qatar, the friction with the USA, the clash with the EU and the non-normalization process with Russia, then it is thought that the Cyprus talks are held in an environment where Turkey's hand is weak.

Claiming that the Greek Cypriot administration (translator's note: as he refers to the Cyprus government) has never believed in the political equality in Cyprus, Yilmaz argued that this side (the Greek Cypriot side) considers the Cyprus settlement as follows: "the expulsion of the Turkish army, the creation of the United Cyprus and the turn of the Turkish Cypriots into a minority".

Stating that Turkey is alone on the Cyprus issue, Yilmaz claimed: "Our concerns have fairly increased due to the biased attitude of the esteemed president in the island (translator's note: he refers to the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci) towards the solution. In order to have a bargaining power in the negotiations, it is important some times to change your tune, sometimes to leave the table, sometimes to break up the table, sometimes not to bring something to pass. But, if you go to the negotiations with the mentality 'I want solution at all costs, no matter what you say', then at the moment you tie your hands. The demands that you don't want will come in front of you. We have warned before not to submit a map on the territory issue. (…) now it is the turn to abolish the Treaty of Guarantee and Alliance. The Greek Cypriot side wants to abolish the unilateral interference right formulated in the article 4 of the Guarantee Treaty. They want first to decrease the number of the army and later to abolish it completely".

Yilmaz further claimed that a solution which will not include Turkey's active and effective guarantees as well its interference right, then it will be the beginning of the end for Turkey. He stressed that when Turkey loses Cyprus then Turkey will lose everything in the Eastern Mediterranean. He reiterated that Cyprus is a national case and this issue is a red-line.

(DPs)

[04] Tatar claims that the Turkish Cypriots want the continuation of the Turkish guarantees in Cyprus

Tatar who issued a written statement, alleged that the reasonable demands of the Turkish Cypriots should not be decr?bed as unreasonable by some circles.

(CS)

[05] Columnist says that the Cyprus Conference should start with the guarantees

"[…] Then what will you do? Will you throw this problem to the end of the negotiation because of its impossibility and difficulty? […]

What we want to say is that if they do not go for vacations to Crans Montana, if a psychology such as prolonging the negotiations and keeping the hopes for a solution always alive does not exist, the sides should not have the need to either deceive or persuade each other.

The problems are evidently there and Mr Akinci as soon as he sits at the table should turn to Anastasiades and ask: 'Do you accept Turkey's guarantees or not?' If instead of a reply he hems and haws (and now some positions of the Greek Cypriot side are published in the newspapers), the negotiations will start from there for bargaining. If Anastasiades says no, 'it can never happen', Mr Akinci will prolong his hand and say 'you go your way, we will go our way' and since he would have paid the price for a vacation at a wonderful place such as Crans Montana, he will enjoy it there for 2-3 days and I will honestly say 'with by blessing!"

(I/Ts.)

[06] Asil Nadir to make a big investment at illegal Lefkonoiko airport with the help of UBP

The 74-year old Nadir said that he will make a 37-million Turkish Lira investment for cargo aircrafts at the illegal airport, which is not opened for commercial flights. As the paper writes, Nadir is asking from the "development bank" the 15-million TL loan as part of the 37-million TL investment; however the "executive board" of the "bank" is divided in two having doubts if Nadir will be able to pay the loan back, since Nadir was "granted" a loan from the "bank" before and he did not pay it back.

The paper further reports that the National Unity Party (UBP) wing of the "government" is exerting pressure so that the "bank" will grant Nadir with the loan. In addition UBP is exerting pressure so that with a "decision" of the "council of ministers" the loan is granted to Nadir directly and not as equivalent for a progress billing of the investment.

(CS)

[07] The "assembly" will be informed regarding the protocol of the construction of a new "penal institute" in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to the paper, the project planning of the new "penal institution", as well as the supply of any kind of technical equipment, which are necessary for the construction and the furnishing will be done by Turkey's Justice Ministry.

The inspection and the supervision during the construction works will be done with the cooperation of the "TRNC" by the Turkish Ministry of Justice.

The works that will be done by the "interior ministry" of the breakaway regime is the necessary technical support when the Turkish Ministry of Justice needs it. It will generally regulate and take the necessary decisions to facilitate the works.

(DPs)

[08] Fifteen applications daily for medical examinations aiming to apply for "citizenships" in the breakaway regime

A "medical certification" is needed for the "citizenships", as the paper writes.

The paper also reports that the issue of the uncontrolled "granting of citizenships" was criticized by the "deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Asim Akansoy who stated that this development will negatively affect the Turkish Cypriot community.

(CS)

[09] Y?ld?r?m held a joint press conference with Tsipras; Turkey wants a fresh start with the EU

"Unfortunately, the EU adopted a negative attitude in the aftermath of the [July 15, 2016] coup attempt and during the constitutional change process … But all of that has been left behind. The EU and Turkey now want to make a fresh start with a new vision," Y?ld?r?m said at a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras in Athens.

Y?ld?r?m also thanked Greece for its "constructive" role in Turkey's EU accession process and the implementation of a migrant deal with the bloc.

"The signing of the deal last year on March 18 was exciting, but unfortunately problems surfaced in a very short time," Yildirim said.

"Despite these problems, we substantially curbed the flow of migrants to the Greek islands, knowing that it was a major problem for the EU and Greece. Our wish and expectation is that the remaining points agreed on are implemented by the EU as soon as possible. I want to convey my dear friend Tsipras's contributions on this issue," Y?ld?r?m added.

According to the deal, Turkey agreed to stop the flow of migrants to the EU via the Aegean and take back migrants who traveled via Turkey, while the EU in return promised to allow visa-free travel for Turkish citizens to the Schengen zone and allocate 3 billion euros to be used for the Syrian migrants in Turkey.

Another item on the two Prime Ministers' agenda was Turkey's extradition request for coup suspect soldiers who fled to Greece at the failed putsch last July.

"A court ruling to not extradite eight Turkish soldiers who fled to Greece in a helicopter following the failed coup attempt last year must be respected", Greek Prime Minister Tsipras said.

"The Greek justice system has ruled on this issue ... and this decision must be fully respected," Tsipras said in response to a question.

On the same issue, Yildirm said: "We would like Greece to extradite those who clearly staged a coup against our nation. We respect the judiciary's decision, but we do not want these soldiers to strike a blow to Turkish-Greek relations," he added.

On the Cyprus problem, Y?ld?r?m said Athens and Ankara had decided to "contribute in every positive way" to a Cyprus settlement.

"A solution of the Cyprus issue should guarantee the security and future of both the Turkish and Greek people living on the island," he said.

[10] Erdogan to visit Germany next month for the G20 summit

The Group of Twenty, comprised of 19 countries plus the European Union, expected to discuss over several global political and economic issues during the summit.

(…)

[11] EU Commissioner Hahn to visit Turkey on July 6

The European Union delegation to Turkey announced Tuesday that Hahn's visit would be a follow-up of the meetings conducted between the EU and Turkey during the NATO summit in Brussels on May 25.

The agenda of the meeting will focus on Turkey's importance to the EU, the statement added.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held meetings with European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the European Parliament President Antonio Tajani on the sidelines of the NATO summit in May.

The agenda of the meetings included issues like the migrant deal signed between Turkey and the EU, the fight against terrorism, the ongoing Cyprus issue and Turkey's long-stalled EU accession process.

Commissioner Hahn previously visited Turkey in September, 2016.

[12] Russia names Alexei Yerkhov as new Ambassador to Turkey

Yerkhov, previously the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Crisis Management Center, replaces Andrey Karlov, who was assassinated at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital Ankara on December 19, 2016.

Karlov was delivering a speech at the opening of an art gallery when an armed assailant shot him several times.

Turkish-Russian relations were tested after Karlov's assassination, but Russian President Putin described the shooting as a "provocation" designed to undermine bilateral ties.

[13] Court rejected appeal against jailing CHP Deputy Berberoglu

Berberoglu was jailed on June 14, after an Istanbul court sentenced him to 25 years for "leaking state secrets" regarding a National Intelligence Organization (MIT) trucks case. The court ruled that Berberoglu had "knowingly helped a terror organization" by providing "state secrets" to the media.

A day earlier, Berberoglu said he will not be free until there is press freedom in Turkey. His message was shared on June 18 by CHP deputy Mahmut Tanal after a one-hour visit to Istanbul's Maltepe Prison, where the lawmaker is imprisoned.

Also, CHP leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu commenced a march from Ankara to Istanbul on June 15 in protest at the arrest of Berberoglu. K?l?cdaroglu is set to march over 24 days from the capital to Istanbul, a distance of around 450 km, to the Maltepe Prison.

(…)

[14] Rosatom plans to sell Akkuyu project stake to Turkish conglomerate

The project is expected to be completed by 2023 and meet 6-7% of Turkey's electricity demand.

Anastasia Zoteyeva, head of Rusatom Energy International, speaking on the sidelines of a nuclear conference in Moscow, said that an agreement with Turkish investors should be signed by the end of year.

She did not reveal the size of the investment, which should help to meet part of Turkey's energy demand, among the fastest-growing in Europe.

The project will be financed by Rosatom and its partners and will involve loans from export-import agencies and banks, Polovinkina, director of Rusatom's finance and investment analysis department told the conference.

"Power from the project's four 1,200 megawatt reactors will be sold mostly to the state with a small amount to be offered on the open market

Polovinkina said.

Rosatom's overseas order book stands at $133 billion for the next 10 years, with almost three times more foreign orders than in 2011, Rosatom first Deputy CEO Kirill Komarov told the conference.

Rosatom is increasing its overseas order book faster than expected and is confident it can continue to expand abroad, Komarov said.

[15] Remains of pesticides in fruits and vegetables put health in danger in the breakaway regime

The decision was taken according to Angolemli in January 2017 by the "agriculture medication commission". "We have been poisoned for the last six months", he stated.

Replying on the matter, the "minister of agriculture and natural resources" Nazim Cavusoglu, stated that they try to protect the "public health" and change the "regulations" in accordance to EU laws.

Vatan newspaper (20.06.17) reports that the United Cyprus Party (BKP) is asking for the so-called department of agriculture to issue a "clean report", statement regarding the pesticides.

(CS)

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