Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-08-18

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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] Burcu on missing persons

[02] Celik: The comprehensive negotiations in Cyprus ended; Duncan: Cavusoglu's approach in Switezerland was constructive and positive

[03] Erhurman argued that those saying that the negotiation talks were ended have no serious plans for the future of Cyprus

[04] Siber denied allegations accusing her of being involved in "a plot of land scandal"

[05] KTOEOS reacts to a statement by Turkish "embassy's" secondary education project coordinator

[06] Former "minister of education" claims that the evolution theory will stop to be taught in the breakaway regime's schools

[07] More "arrests" related to FETO in the breakaway regime

[08] Ankara voices concerns after Merkel's Customs Union remarks

[09] British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Time to return to normality for Turkey

[10] Tehran, Ankara agree on sharing intel, operational cooperation on fight against terror

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Burcu on missing persons

In his message, Burcu stated the following:

"President Mustafa Ak?nc? by approaching the missing persons issue as a humanitarian and conscientious issue was closely following the search for and return of the remains of both Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot missing persons to their families. Thus, the president since he took the office in May 2015 has been given all financial and moral support for the acceleration of the works been carried out by the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP)" he added.

He said that Ak?nc? stated that 'the issue of the missing persons is our common pain" soon after his election and had made a joint call with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades following their meeting on the 28th of May and asked those who have any information on the missing persons to share them with the Committee on Missing Persons.

"As a result of an initiative taken by the TRNC presidency 30 military areas in the TRNC where the remains of missing persons are considered to be found were included in the program and the excavation works have started" Burcu said.

He also added that the "TRNC presidency" also made a financial support to an additional budget needed by the CMP for a project it developed for researching the archives in and out of Cyprus with the aim of finding data on the missing persons.

"Our president who had always drawn attention to the importance of information sharing and evidence besides financial and technical measures he tried to contribute to the development of such awareness on both sides" Burcu said.

He also said that Akicni had made the necessary consultations with the "military officials" and enabled excavation priority for an area in occupied Ashia village where Greek Cypriot missing persons were claimed to be buried and was brought into the agenda following the determination of 30 areas within the military areas where the excavation works will be carried out.

"A need to share true information with the public has risen as a result of the recent news and comments on the Greek Cypriot media regarding the issue. The Greek Cypriot columnist Andreas Parashos in his article published on the Greek Cypriot Kathimerini newspaper on the 13th of August 2017 had claimed that 'Mr. Ak?nc? had promised me in February 2015 that the Ashia cemetery will be opened. Two and a half years have passed and I am still waiting for a response.' However, Parashos could have been mistaken about the time because in February 2015 Mr. Ak?nc? had not been elected and taken on the duty yet." Burcu said.

"President Ak?nc? as a result of these claims had taken an action and enabled the lifting of all obstacles on excavation works to be carried out in the area" he added.

Stating that there was no obstacle on the excavation works to be carried out in the area, Burcu expressed the need for the identification of the area and the testimony of the witnesses for the excavation works to show rapid result in a 40 donums area.

"It is our greatest wish that everyone including Mr. Parashos who claims that there were missing persons in the area would help the CMP in finding the witnesses who would give testimonies" Burcu added.

[02] Celik: The comprehensive negotiations in Cyprus ended; Duncan: Cavusoglu's approach in Switezerland was constructive and positive

"At this stage the comprehensive negotiations ended. They have not been frozen or postponed in any manner. It has been seen that the Greek Cypriot side did not want to reach a solution within the framework of the negotiations. The comprehensive negotiations ended. The UN, the TRNC and the Republic of Turkey will take the necessary steps for carrying out the necessary consultations regarding what will be done from now on. […] Of course, this situation of non-solution cannot be left hanging in the air. […]"

Referring to the same joint statements, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (18.08.17) reports that Celik further said that Turkey and Britain held close contacts on the Cyprus problem and claimed that a solution had not been reached in spite of the positive stance exhibited by the Turkish side.

In his statements, Duncan argued that they were sorry because no solution to the Cyprus problem could be reached in Switzerland and alleged: "We know the constructive and positive approach by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. It is really a pity. We were very sorry by the fact that the comprehensive negotiations have not reached a result".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Erhurman argued that those saying that the negotiation talks were ended have no serious plans for the future of Cyprus

Erhurman also stated that those saying "we will clean up our house" do nothing than "messing up their house". "They are continuing doing whatever they can to prevent us from breathing, by locking all windows and doors", Erhurman further said.

(AK)

[04] Siber denied allegations accusing her of being involved in "a plot of land scandal"

Siber claimed that she never bought any plot of land nor she has in her own property any plot of land in the above mentioned area.

(AK)

[05] KTOEOS reacts to a statement by Turkish "embassy's" secondary education project coordinator

Eylem issued a statement yesterday saying that "Ankara's employee is lost, he has forgotten where he is". She argued that this employee is "in the country of the secular, democratic, modern and honorable Turkish Cypriots". "Our spineless politicians may succumb to your effort to insult, humiliate and discredit us, to your transformation policies, may ignore them, may not listen, but we will not allow these", she noted.

Commenting on the issue, columnist Canan Sumer in Afrika reports that the "coordinator" has written the above comment under KTOEOS' statement with the title "What happened in Canakkale Camping". The columnist notes that it is not difficult to predict in what kind of community the Turkish Cypriots will live within a decade and argues: "[…] AKP's mentality argues that Cyprus is a conquered Islamic land and with great love plants the seeds of Sunni Sect in the TRNC. It is changed with perception operations and social engineering. However, as community, we continue being quiet. Let us not forget, the silence of the good [people] is more dangerous than the oppression of the bad ones".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Former "minister of education" claims that the evolution theory will stop to be taught in the breakaway regime's schools

According to Idris the curriculum of the schools will change and issues related to Kemal Ataturk and Kemalism will be limited. Issues regarding Cihad (Islamic war) will be included in the school curriculum instead, according to Idris.

[07] More "arrests" related to FETO in the breakaway regime

The couple is Hicabi Duran and Saliha Duran.

According to the paper, these are "precursor investigations" for the "case" since the "investigations" will be continued at a later point.

The so-called police discovered books and magazines belonging to FETO at the garage of the couple and seized their phones and computers.

(CS)

[08] Ankara voices concerns after Merkel's Customs Union remarks

"It is not right for an EU-member country to behave like it is instructing EU institutions," Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kal?n told reporters on Aug. 17.

"The Customs Union agreement is built on a win-win principle. We are talking about a relationship that is based on the mutual benefit of both Turkey and European countries. When it is precluded, postponed or cancelled, then all European countries will be harmed, not just Turkey," Kal?n said.

His comments came after Merkel touched on Turkey–Germany relations on a live interview on YouTube on Aug. 16.

Turkey's EU Minister Omer Celik also criticized the German Chancellor for "instructing EU institutions," describing her comments as "unfortunate."

In addition, the paper also reports that Kalin said that U.S. Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis will visit Turkey in the coming days.

[09] British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Time to return to normality for Turkey

He also restated the U.K.'s continued solidarity with the Turkish government and its people that it showed so clearly on the night of the coup attempt and during the challenging times that followed.

"I think the first thing to understand is just how extensive and a total threat this was to the country and its entire government and its working as a state. So, if you understand that, then you have to understand that extraordinary steps needed to be taken to stabilize the country and to make sure this could not happen again," he said in an interview with the Hurriyet daily on Aug. 17.

"I think it would be good if the country could get to the position where it can end the state of emergency and prove that the steps that have been taken against threats are on an individual basis, just, proper and fair," Duncan said, voicing concerns about the prolonged state of emergency rule in Turkey.

"There are tens of thousands of people who have been labelled as a threat. I think that is a challenge for the country and there are concerns," he added.

"It would be very good to signal that there can be a return to normality. I think a permanent or a prolonged state of emergency does not signal that," he said.

Duncan said the U.K. acknowledged the gravity of the threat that the July 15 coup attempt posed to the Turkish government, and to face such a threat, extraordinary steps had to be taken to stabilize the country.

"There is clear evidence of the Gulenists' involvement. But it is also important to uphold the principles of democracy and the proper judicial process so that across the world, people can retain their faith in Turkey as a stable country, good for business and with its proper principles of democracy and justice," he said.

He added that in the U.K. the arrest of Amnesty International members had also resonated since the organization has a "strong support in the country," and that such issues "are causing a little bit of difficulty."

"I very much hope that the principles of an independent judiciary, dispensing justice in a fair and proper way can be what we see here in Turkey," he said.

"The United Kingdom is determined to understand what is going on in Turkey and work very closely with you now and in the years ahead. Our bilateral relations are very strong," he said.

Responding to a question concerning the latest speculations over the possibility of the arrest of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu, whom President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested may be linked to an espionage case which led to the imprisonment of CHP lawmaker Enis Berberoglu, Duncan said "concerns inevitably grow when elected politicians are arrested."

"It is difficult to reconcile that with the proper workings of democracy. So, we would certainly urge caution in doing such things," he said.

"If someone is proven to threaten the state and be plotting against the government and to be participating in plans for a coup or an actual coup attempt, then, of course, there is a reason to arrest them. MPs should not be exempt in such circumstances. But one should not arrest people for having a point of view or an opinion. Because the difference of opinion is an essential part of a properly working democracy," he said.

Duncan also stressed on the growing relations between Turkey and the U.K. as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.

"As we leave [the EU] the business, cultural, technological and all other relations between Turkey and Britain can actually now go forward because we are really making a big effort," Duncan said.

Asked about the deteriorating relations between Ankara and Brussels concerning the accession talks with Turkey, Duncan said, "Whatever the current tensions, countries have still got to cooperate and work together to serve the interests they have in common."

"One of the main reasons that the U.K. is taking such interest in Turkey is that you are the most important country and you matter for counter-terrorism. You are next door to Syria and you are located where there is a migration challenge," he said.

"If the world is to tackle these challenges, countries have to work together and therefore it is important that we, the EU and Turkey do work together whatever political differences there may be," he said.

"I would signal very strongly that the U.K. will continue to work very closely with Turkey on all of our common interests on security, peace, migration, trade and so on," he added.

[10] Tehran, Ankara agree on sharing intel, operational cooperation on fight against terror

Baqeri, who made a rare visit to Turkey to hold talks with his Turkish counterpart, Gen. Hulusi Akar, as well as other top state officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said the countries reached agreements on military cooperation and border security.

"We agreed on joint training and student exchange. The navies of the two countries will visit each other. The countries will provide observers in military drills," Baqeri told Iranian media on Aug. 17, adding that the talks with Turkish officials went "very successfully."

"The foundations of many issues in the areas of military, defence and security were laid as part of the Turkey visit and this process will continue," he said.

Saying that he visited Ankara with the approval of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Baqeri noted that he invited Akar to Iran in order for the cooperation between the countries to continue.

Baqeri added that Erdogan will also visit Iran soon. Touching on the much-debated independence referendum to be held by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq on Sept. 25, Baqeri said the issue was a pressing topic on the agenda between Turkish and Iranian officials.

"If such a thing [referendum] takes place, it would be the beginning of new tensions and would affect neighbouring countries negatively. That's why the two countries are insisting on the referendum to not be possible and that it shouldn't be realized," he said.

Baqeri is accompanied by Commander of the Ground Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brig. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, head of Iran's border guard command Gen. Qasem Rezaei, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Rahimpour, as well as several other military commanders during his visit.

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(CS / AM)

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