Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-08-30

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

CONTENTS

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci sent a letter to European Commission President Juncker

[02] No "permission" was given by the breakaway regime for the Ayios Mamas annual ritual

[03] Akdag: "The Turkish Cypriot community should be ready for a change in every sector"

[04] Turkish columnist wondered if Turkey has decided to reduce the number of its troops in Cyprus

[05] The so-called council of ministers took the first step for the privatization of the occupied ports

[06] The occupation regime's "consulates" in Izmir and Mersin to be upgraded to "consulate general"

[07] Communal Democracy Party has no connection with Ortam newspaper anymore

[08] Erdogan: Intelligence agency must be under head of State

[09] Turkey's new political party may be named 'Centre Democrat Party'

[10] Commentary: "What is the logic behind Turkey's S-400 deal with Russia?"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci sent a letter to European Commission President Juncker

Akinci replied to the letter Junger sent a few days ago to both leaders in Cyprus.

In the letter Akinci stated that the efforts of the Turkish Cypriots to increase their contacts with the EU as well as the preparation for harmonization with the EU laws should continue without interruption, claiming that these efforts should not be a victim of the "obstacles" put by the Greek Cypriot side.

He also reminded Juncker, that a technical support of the EU is needed in order to have a common future in the European Union.

Thanking Junger for his continued interest in Cyprus, Akinci evaluated the developments and consequences of the Cypriot Conference in Crans Montana, Switzerland, where the EU participated as an observer.

He claimed that the EU officials witnessed the good intentions and constructive attitude demonstrated by the Turkish side, and he expressed his disappointment "of the lost opportunity of this historic solution".

Alleging that the Greek Cypriots need to change their mentality in order to share power and authority with the Turkish Cypriots, Akinci stated that it is obvious that the problems cannot be overcome "by repeating the old methodologies".

Responding to Juncker, who stated that every road to be reached must be evaluated and bridges must be established, Akinci emphasized that Turkish Cypriots will continue to make every effort to reach a lasting peace that will enable the two communities in Cyprus to live in harmony without fear of the future.

(CS)

[02] No "permission" was given by the breakaway regime for the Ayios Mamas annual ritual

According to the paper the UN conveyed to "Greek Cypriot officials" yesterday the news that "permission" is not granted neither for the ritual on September 3 nor for the evening prayer on September 2.

The paper writes that it contacted Kemal Koprulu the "director" of the "foreign ministry" who confirmed the news, claiming that the reason for not granting "permission" is the fact that Ayios Mamas annual ritual coincides with the celebrations held in the occupied areas of Cyprus for the Kurban Bayram (Feast of Sacrifice). Koprulu stated that the ritual can be held after September 5.

(CS)

[03] Akdag: "The Turkish Cypriot community should be ready for a change in every sector"

Noting that he will strive for the development of the Turkish Cypriot "people" in every field, Akdag said that "the steps in this process should be always taken together". Noting that the Cyprus talks have not yielded any result, Akdag said: "It is high time to build a new future". He added that "the role of the media to prepare the community for the change is tremendous".

According to a "TRNC high officer" speaking to the paper, while Akdag was saying that the "protocols" and the "mutual agreements" which were signed between Turkey and the "TRNC" should be finalized, he added that "the development which is going on in Turkey, will also happen in the TRNC".

Akdag further said that the relations between Turkey and the "TRNC" are invaluable and the latter's security and peace is of outmost importance to Ankara. Akdag stressed that "Turkey considers the Turkish Cypriots as an indispensable part of itself (as their eye's pupil saying by a word) and therefore TRNC's security, peace and welfare is important to them".

Explaining that they want to take the "TRNC" further, Akdag said that "the per capita income is 14 thousand dollars in the TRNC and they want it to become 20 thousand dollars". Akdag noted that apart from the spending amount, there are 540 million TL resources for being used in the occupied area of Cyprus in 2017, adding that the primary object of this resource is to be used for productive projects in the "TRNC".

According to Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (30.08.17), Akdag pointed out that "a number of projects toward reaching a peaceful solution have been carried out as part of a TL 3.5-billion ($1.01 billion) deal between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots over a two-year period" and added that "all these efforts aim to meet the TRNC's demand for infrastructure". He further said that the two "countries" have jointly been working on a number of projects in various fields including health and road communication.

According to Milliyet, Akdag, replying to a question regarding the high prices in the electricity, said that the works for transferring electricity from Turkey are continuing in high speed.

The "TRNC high officer" said: "North Cyprus changes shell. Minister Akdag's stance is very positive on this change" and added: "Esteemed Akdag has impressed us a lot. (…) he explained that he will concern himself with all the issues. He gave confidence to North Cyprus".

Meanwhile, according to illegal Bayrak television (online, 30.08.17, http://www.brtk.net/akdag-isbirligini-ve-destekleri-vazifemiz-olarak-biliyoruz/), Akdag, following a working breakfast with journalists yesterday, paid illegal visits to the "Dr. Burhan Nalbantoglu state hospital", Seyh Naz?m K?br?si's tomb and the "Gecitkoy Dam" (in occupied Myrtou), the "Karaoglanoglu martyr's cemetery", "Yavuz C?karma Beach" (Pentemili beach where Turkish occupation troops first landed in Cyprus), the "National Park Project" and Hz. Omer Shrine in Girne.

Later in the afternoon he visited the Hala Sultan Theology College and Mosque, the Murataga, Sandallar Martyr's Cemetery, Gazimagusa and the fenced off town of Varosha.

Akdag also attended a dinner hosted in his honour by the self-styled deputy prime minister Serdar Denktas in the occupied town of Famagusta before leaving the occupied area of Cyprus.

During the inspection of the "Dr Burhan Nalbantoglu state hospital", Akdag said that the hospital which will be constructed in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus will be 200,000 m2, like a small town, adding that it would be like the hospitals in Turkey. He further said that the construction of a new hospital in the "TRNC" was the demand of the "citizens", wishing that the project will be implemented soon with the "TRNC administration".

(DPs)

[04] Turkish columnist wondered if Turkey has decided to reduce the number of its troops in Cyprus

Pointing out that since the "peace operation in Cyprus", in 1974, as the Turkish invasion is called, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) keep army corps in Cyprus, and "Turkish peacekeeping commander in Cyprus" is one out of the nine Turkey's army corps, the columnist writes, that up to now a "lieutenant general" was at the "top of the rank". But this has suddenly changed, adds the columnist, since the AKP government with a new regulation has appointed a "major general" at this "post".

The columnist continues and supports that taking into account that the main goal of the Greek Cypriots and Greece on the Cyprus problem is for Turkey to be disconnected to Cyprus and also taking into consideration that the most wishful demand of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo during the Cyprus negotiation talks was the proposal for the "withdrawal of the Turkish troops from the island", a lot of questions arise from this "decision" in the international community. The question which came into the agenda is the following: "Does the AKP government decide quietly and unobtrusively to reduce the number of its troops on the island?

[…] "The situation perhaps is directly related with the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the dismissal of thousands of generals from their positions due to the 15 July coup attempt and their ties with the Fethullatist Terror Organization", writes the columnist.

[…]

(AK)

[05] The so-called council of ministers took the first step for the privatization of the occupied ports

According to the paper, the report to be prepared will include data concerning the "financial structure of the TRNC's ports in the last two years", the investments which are necessary to be made at the "ports" and their cost.

(AK)

[06] The occupation regime's "consulates" in Izmir and Mersin to be upgraded to "consulate general"

Also, the "council of ministers" "decided" to appoint Meric Burak Kayia as an "honorary consul".

(AK)

[07] Communal Democracy Party has no connection with Ortam newspaper anymore

According to the statement, Esat Varoglu was stopped from his duties as the paper's manager following instructions from Mehmet Cakici who recently left TDP.

The party said that it will continue its road with another more powerful voice soon.

(CS)

[08] Erdogan: Intelligence agency must be under head of State

"Isn't the head of state the one who should receive the most significant information and documents in intelligence? If the head of intelligence isn't directly under the head of the state then the state loses its ability to act," Erdogan said during a joint broadcast by private broadcaster NTV and state-run broadcaster TRT Haber late on Aug. 28 to mark his third year as President.

Erdogan said the practice is in place in "all of the big states".

Erdogan reiterated that with the April 16 constitutional referendum for an executive presidency, people took a step towards the presidential system with 51.4% who voted "yes." He noted that the second step would be taken with the presidential election in 2019.

During his interview, Erdogan said that MIT did not have a serious international portfolio 15 years ago, but now it does. "Serious communication is taking place in the Islamic world and in the West. MIT is also taking further steps in humanitarian and technical intelligence and we have an intelligence agency that takes steps in being a determinant power in the region", he said.

[09] Turkey's new political party may be named 'Centre Democrat Party'

Koray Ayd?n, who resigned from MHP on Aug. 22 and announced his allegiance to a group of MPs who had resigned from the MHP, said that the party will feature leftists, conservatives, nationalists, liberals and so on.

"Efforts regarding the party name are ongoing. There is work on the 'Centre Democrat Party' emblem," Ayd?n told private broadcaster Haberturk late on Aug. 28, as he added that the founding board will include names well-known in their areas.

Saying that people will see the party as "a new one when the founding members are announced," Ayd?n noted that "it's not the follow-up of a party," referring to the MHP.

"We may be leading it, but when the foundation board is announced, people will see that individuals from all parts of society are involved. There will be Alevis, Sunnis, leftists, rightists, nationalists, conservatives, liberals and so on. We will provide the Turkish people with a cadre that will govern Turkey," he added.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (online, 30.08.17) reports that ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) spokesman Mahir Unal, commenting on the formation of Aksener's new party, asserted that it is likely to fail. "Aksener and her team should firstly take a step in the political arena. Our nation will surely be the one to judge whether they are qualified enough or not," Unal said and added, "But I don't believe that they will be able to make room for themselves in Turkish politics."

The examples of the failures of deputies in Turkey are numerous. For instance, the political career of Erkan Mumcu, who was a former deputy for the AK Party and former culture and tourism minister, ended following his resignation from the AK Party and the media no longer mentions him. An additional example is former Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, a former AK Party politician who announced the establishment of a political party in 2009 called the Turkey Party. Sener closed his party shortly after its founding in 2012 due to its failure to establish its political goals. He later aimed to join the Felicity Party (SP), but it did not happen. Another example is former Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who resigned from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) in 2002 ahead of parliamentary elections and formed the New Turkey Party (YTP), however due to election failure it also closed and merged with the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

Aksener was expelled from the MHP due to claims she had ties to the Gulenist Terror Group (FETO). According to sources close to Aksener, her new party is expected to gain legal status by October. Last week, Ayd?n announced that he resigned from the MHP to join Aksener's new party. Ayd?n served as Public Works and Housing Minister from 1999 to 2001. He was put on trial in 2005 at the Supreme Court on corruption charges, but was cleared of all charges in 2007. In 2016, he indicated on a televised broadcast that Aksener was linked with FETO. He has now decided to join Aksener's team.

Meanwhile, in an effort to increase her party's publicity, Aksener has been trying to persuade people who are widely known to join her new party. Former Chief of Staff Ilker Basbug, former Constitutional Court President Hasim K?l?c and former Presidency of Religious Affairs head Ali Bardakoglu have all reportedly declined Aksener's invitation to join her new party. Basbug declined the invitation to join the new party on the grounds that he does not want to be a politician. K?l?c and Bardakoglu also said they will not be part of the new party.

[10] Commentary: "What is the logic behind Turkey's S-400 deal with Russia?"

"It seems that Turkey's deal with Russia for the S-400 Triumph long-range anti-aircraft missile system is going ahead. Dmitri Shugayev, the head of the Russian Technologies State Corporation, was quoted by Hurriyet on Aug. 28 as saying that the system is ready for delivery, barring a few technical details that are being ironed out.

This is good news for Ankara, which has set great store by this system. But the U.S. and Turkey's other principal allies in NATO are not happy. They say Turkey is a NATO member and this system is not compatible with the alliance's defence infrastructure.

In truth, they don't like Ankara cosying up to Moscow because of the ongoing East-West rivalry. They are also worried that this could be the prelude to increased cooperation between Turkey and Russia on strategic weaponry.

That, at least, is the impression that Ankara wants to give. The other side of the coin is that Turkey is angry with NATO. This is mostly because principal NATO allies are cooperating with the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) in Syria, which Ankara says is a terrorist organization, and are also reluctant to extradite members of what prosecutors call the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO), accused of masterminding last year's failed coup attempt.

Many Turkish officials doubt NATO's commitment to Turkey's security, and believe that veering towards Russia is a necessary step to counterbalance this. Russia is more than happy, of course. To pull Turkey away from the West towards itself is one of Moscow's long-standing dreams.

Turkey, like any other country, has the right to consider its own security needs first. It is clear that it also has a need for air defence systems; otherwise it would not have called on NATO to provide these in the two Gulf Wars and after the Syrian civil war broke out.

The question here, however, is a simple one. Is Turkey's S-400 deal with Russia a political or a military deal? If it is a military deal, its merits have yet to be explained. Even a security expert from the government-sponsored Political, Economic, and Social Research Foundation (SETA) has questioned this.

Speaking to Al Jazeera in June, Merve Seren pointed out that Turkey mostly faces short-range threats and intimated that the deployment of long range S-400's – which she also said have not been tested yet - could end up being useless.

If that turns out to be the case, the S-400 deal will be an expensive and risky way of hitting back at NATO. Officials in Ankara say the real value of the deal is the technology transfer that it will provide, and Russia has ostensibly agreed to this. But Turkish-Russian friendship is certainly not writ in stone.

The two countries have different - and in many cases diametrically opposed - positions on regional issues, from Ukraine and the Crimea to the Middle East. Just how much modern technology Moscow will ultimately be willing to transfer to Turkey remains an open question.

Turkey may be angry with the West over the YPG issue, but Russia has openly declared that it does not consider the group - or Ankara's arch-enemy the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - to be terrorist organizations. Moscow was also the first to float the idea of autonomy for Syrian Kurds, a suggestion that is abhorrent for Ankara.

Ankara's anger with the West clearly forces it to remain silent on all of this, even as it hits at the West for similar reasons. That is why the S-400 affair sounds more like an ill-considered way of trying to get even with the West, which could result in Ankara painting itself into yet another corner.

There is an old Ottoman saying that cautions against "losing the bulgur [cracked wheat] stored at home while chasing after the rice in Damietta [an Egyptian port city]."

The hope is that this will not be true for the S-400 deal." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.pio.gov.cy

(DPs / ICh)

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