Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-07-14

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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] Turkey's MFA issues a written statement on the Republic of Cyprus' hydrocarbon related activities in the Eastern Mediterranean

[02] Turkish warships in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

[03] Albayrak announces that Barbaros vessel will launch seismic exploration in occupied Morfou area

[04] Atun: During the forthcoming days TPAO's platform will also take its place for extracting natural resources

[05] Candan briefed the Socialist International on the current stage of the Cyprus problem

[06] Former Turkish Cypriot negotiators alleged that the efforts for a federal solution collapsed

[07] Elcil accused Ozrgurgun of "mocking the Turkish Cypriot community"

[08] Thirty one more "citizenships" "granted" by the occupation regime

[09] Turkey commemorates the first anniversary of the 15th July coup attempt; Statements by Erdogan and Yildirim

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey's MFA issues a written statement on the Republic of Cyprus' hydrocarbon related activities in the Eastern Mediterranean

"We are closely following the Greek Cypriot Administration's ongoing unilateral hydrocarbon related activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, which disregard the inalienable rights on natural resources of the Turkish Cypriot people, the co-owners of the Island.

From the very beginning, Turkey has been issuing the necessary warnings with regard to these irresponsible steps taken by the Greek Cypriot Administration.

This time, a drilling vessel has arrived in the region to commence work in the context of the so-called licenses unilaterally issued by the Greek Cypriot Administration.

The negotiation process, including the Conference on Cyprus, could not produce results despite all the well-intentioned efforts of the Turkish side. It is in fact obvious that the primary reason for this is the Greek Cypriot side's propensity to regard itself as the sole owner of the Island.

Turkey is determined to protect both its own rights and interests in its continental shelf and to continue its support to the Turkish Cypriot side. Within this framework, we will take the necessary measures, in coordination with the Government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, in response to the unilateral activities being conducted by the Greek Cypriot side in disregard of the legitimate rights of the Turkish Cypriots on the natural resources around the island".

[02] Turkish warships in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

According to a statement posted on the Turkish General Staff's webpage (http://www.tsk.tr/GunlukFaaliyetler) on 12 July, the platform is being watched by TCG GOKCEADA warship [frigate]. It is also noted that TCG GAZIANTEP warship and a submarine are carrying out reconnaissance surveillance in the Eastern Mediterranean, within the framework of the "Mediterranean Shield Operation", which allegedly aims to provide security to oil transport, deter possible risks and threats in the area and support NATO's efforts for providing security in the sea of the area. TCG KALKAN war ship has also carried out reconnaissance surveillance in the area, according to the same webpage.

Moreover, commenting on the developments, columnist Aziz Karaaziz in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (14.07.17) writes that Turkey: 1) opposes the Greek Cypriot side's [Translator's note: as he describes the Republic of Cyprus] "seizing" Cyprus' natural resources and 2) points out that the Turkish Cypriots also have rights on these resources, at least as much as the Greek Cypriots. "Now it will take action based on these two points", he argues referring to Turkey's possible actions. He notes:

"Turkey had anyway announced this from the very beginning. First, there is a reaction to Greek Cypriot side's drilling. Then, there is an action of the Turkish side in the same manner. That is, on the one hand the Greek Cypriot side's activities will be prevented and on the other, the Turkish Cypriot side will respond with similar activities. Turkey showed its determination and as a first step sent Gokceada frigate to the area. Gokceada will follow the ship named West Capella, which came to the area to carry our drillings for the Greek Cypriot side. This is its [Gokceada's] duty for now. [?]"

Meanwhile, Professor Ata Atun [father of self-styled energy minister Sunat Atun] was asked by Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (14.07.17) to comment on Turkey's military maneuver with armed missiles after 17 July. He argued that there would be no armed conflict in the area and alleged that if there was no sharing [of the hydrocarbon recourses], "everyone would extract his own gas and the possibility of finding a solution on the island would become completely zero".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Albayrak announces that Barbaros vessel will launch seismic exploration in occupied Morfou area

Referring to the Republic of Cyprus' drilling activities in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Albayrak argued that Turkey is not a "Banana Republic" and that they conveyed the message to the representatives of the energy companies who participated in the 22nd World Oil Congress in Istanbul, that "it is not legal to do business in risky areas". He added:

"The Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa vessel's seismic works in Famagusta ended. The next step is Morfou. This place is a particular continental shelf area. Together with these works in Morfou, we will now play a much more active role in the Mediterranean. Guided by the reports following the seismic work, we will start exploration and drilling with a vessel which we will purchase".

Alleging that the Greek Cypriot side, as he described the Republic of Cyprus, do not contribute to the solution by independently acting on the issue of energy explorations, Albayrak claimed: "Because we start from the position that 'the wealth of the island belongs to the entire island, we do not see a reasonable solution in the short term in the field of energy in south Cyprus within this framework, as long as they do not take any positive steps. If you independently say at this point that 'I will determine the blocks as I like, I will draw them on the map, I will award them to the firms'. It is not possible for us as a guarantor power, to see this positively. Turkey has played a very constructive role on these issues until today in order to positively contribute to peace. However, taking into consideration this picture which we are recently seeing, it seems that no result came out of this approach. We will follow how things will go from now. As Turkey we will now pursue a much more influential and active exploration, seismic and drilling strategy in the Mediterranean, [and] the Black Sea, both at sea and onshore".

Noting that during the above-mentioned Congress he had met with CEO's of energy companies which are carrying out exploration activities in the Mediterranean, Albayrak said:

"I will not give names, but our discussions with the firms continue. We are issuing our warnings on this issue. It is really not a correct step for the firms [?] to do business in areas bearing risk, before the legal problem is solved. Some of the firms act sensitively. However, there are also firms which do not act within this framework. I have openly said the following to these firms: As Turkey, as their energy market, we will not see positively this stance they have. As Turkey we want regional peace. We say let everyone look at this framework but some act with the mentality that I did it and it happened. Then, where is the law? Come on, go to courts. [?] Excuse me, but we are not a Banana Republic. The Republic of Turkey will not allow anyone to take away its rights [?]".

Meanwhile Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (14.07.17) refers to the same statements under the title "Morfou landing" and reports that Albayrak alleged that the Greek Cypriots, as he described the Republic of Cyprus, cannot act alone for the natural gas in the Mediterranean.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Atun: During the forthcoming days TPAO's platform will also take its place for extracting natural resources

"As a result of the talks we have held with Turkey's Minister of Energy Mr Albayrak, during the forthcoming days, the necessary platform for extracting natural resources will take its place in cooperation with Turkish Petroleum (TPAO)".

Atun alleged that they will continue to actively fight off any efforts by the Greek Cypriots to "unilaterally exploit Cyprus' natural resources", on which the "Turkish Cypriot people" have also rights.

Arguing that following the unsuccessful result of the Cyprus Conference in Crans Montana they will continue with determination on their path as "TRNC" [Translator's note: The breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus], Atun claimed: "In cooperation with motherland Turkey we have reached the end of the efforts of installing the Turkey-TRNC oil pipeline. The TRNC will continue its way by growing everyday".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Candan briefed the Socialist International on the current stage of the Cyprus problem

Delivering a speech during the meeting, Candan briefed the audience on the current stage of the Cyprus problem following the failure of the Cyprus conference in Crans Montana, Switzerland.

Supporting that the Cyprus Conferene in Crans Montana was a "serious opportunity for a solution", Candan stated that unfortunately the process did not yield a positive outcome. He, however, stressed the need for the convergences achieved by the two sides during the last two years not to be wasted, stating that it is necessary to undertake steps in the forthcoming period and to be constructive based on these convergences.

Candan further called on the international community not to endure the status quo in the island, since, as "it does not benefit either the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots or Turkey and Greece". He also expressed the view that in parallel to the efforts aiming at reaching a mutually accepted solution, it is important to support confidence building measures in order to bring the two communities closer to each other.

Pointing to the so-called embargoes "imposed" by the international community on the Turkish Cypriots, Candan called on the international community to keep the promises it gave to the Turkish Cypriots and proceed to the "lifting" of the "embargoes" until after a solution has been reached.

(?)

(AK)

[06] Former Turkish Cypriot negotiators alleged that the efforts for a federal solution collapsed

Alleging that negotiations talks should not continue from the point they stooped in Crans Montana, Ertug and Olgun claimed that the 50 year experience had shown that a negotiation process not on the basis of political equality, with several "restrictions" and "embargoes" serves nothing else but the continuation of the status quo. They further alleged that if a new process was to be launched, this should be based on the "existence of two separate states" and should provide the conditions for good neighborly relations.

(AK)

[07] Elcil accused Ozrgurgun of "mocking the Turkish Cypriot community"

Commenting on Ozgurgun's statement, Elicil said: "Those who make statements every day and decisions under the instructions of the Turkish authorities, aiming to turn the northern part of the island into a colony of Turkey, are mocking the community by stating 'we would not become Turkey's province'".

Elcil described Ozgurgun as "a servant in the eyes of Turkey". He further accused the "government" of "distributing citizenship" with in order to change the demographic structure of the Turkish Cypriot community, "Those who administrate the country do not even know the real number of the population in the island", Elcil further said.

Pointing out to the problems existing in the occupied area of Cyprus in all "sectors" due to the increased population, Elcil condemned further the fact that the "TRNC" had become a place of money laundering from Turkish night clubs and casinos.

(AK)

[08] Thirty one more "citizenships" "granted" by the occupation regime

The names of those "those obtained the TRNC citizenship", were published in the "official gazette" dated July 10 and 12.

(AK)

[09] Turkey commemorates the first anniversary of the 15th July coup attempt; Statements by Erdogan and Yildirim

Erdogan was speaking in an event marking the first anniversary of last year's attempted takeover.

"There are important turning points in the history of nations and states, which direct their future. July 15 is such a date for the Turkish nation and the Turkish Republic. From now on, nothing will be the same as before July 15," Erdogan stated.

The event is part of week-long commemoration events set to mark the first anniversary of last year's deadly coup attempt.

(?)

The same paper also reports that Turkish Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m has warned that it was too early to say the fight against the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO) was over, adding that the organization's full structure was not yet known.

"It is too early to say 'this issue is now over.' The trials [of FETO-linked suspects] are continuing, and different things may come out of them meaning new developments may happen. That is to say, we should not disregard this possibility," Y?ld?r?m said on July 13 in a meeting with chief editors of newspapers in Istanbul.

"Taking into account all factors such as the phenomenon's size, the organization's non-transparent structure and its complicated relations, surprising developments can happen," he noted.

When asked about the possibility of a new coup attempt in Turkey, Y?ld?r?m said it was out of the question, while noting that in case of such an attempt, its consequences for those undertaking it would be harsher compared to those for last year's failed coup attempt suspects.

Y?ld?r?m said the rumor about an imminent new coup attempt being on the horizon is a message kept alive by FETO for the purpose of giving the impression that they are not finished yet.

(?)

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(AK / AA)

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