Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-09-21

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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 and Nami are holding contacts in New York

[02] Cavusoglu: "The so-called tenders coincides with the continental shelf of our country"

[03] Ertugruloglu said that the success of any process on Cyprus problem required Ankara's support

[04] Columnist alleges that it is time to discuss other solutions in Cyprus; The negotiations will reportedly resume after the elections

[05] Reactions to the thousands of "citizenships" granted by the occupation regime

[06] Occupied Kythrea and neighbouring villages to be paved with asphalt

[07] Putin is due to Ankara next week to meet Erdogan on Syria

[08] No disagreements between Turkey and NATO over S-400 deal

[09] Turkey is top country in seeking removal of content on Twitter

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci and Nami are holding contacts in New York

The meeting, which took place at the UN building in New York, was attended by Akinci's special advisor for diplomacy and EU Affairs Erhan Ercin and the "TRNC's New York representative" Mehmet Dana.

The situation following the collapsed talks in Crans Montana and the latest situation regarding the Cyprus problem were discussed during the meeting.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami, who is accompanying Akinci, met with Germany's Permanent Representative to the UN and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Chief Foreign Policy Advisor Cristoph Huesgen at Germany's Permanent Representative's office.

[02] Cavusoglu: "The so-called tenders coincides with the continental shelf of our country"

Cavusoglu responded to a written question by the Republican People's Party (CHP) Hatay Deputy Mevlut Dudu on the issue.

Cavusoglu stated that Turkey firmly supported the negotiation process that began in 2008 in the framework of the UN Secretary-General's Good Offices mission on the island, in order to ensure a fair, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, which, as he said, "is one of Turkey's main foreign policy priorities".

He went on to add that the Cyprus Conference, at Crans-Montana in Switzerland, failed due to the fact that the Greek Cypriot side had not demonstrated the necessary sincere and resolute stance. "The Conference has failed and has been closed, so the comprehensive negotiation process that started in 2008 has come to an end", he said.

"Since 2003, the Greek Cypriot Administration with unilateral initiatives has tried to create unilateralist endeavors, such as oil and natural gas exploration, restricting maritime jurisdictions in the Eastern Mediterranean on behalf of the entire island. The so-called tenders opened by them coincide with the continental shelf of our country. Our country is determined to take all kinds of measures to protect the rights and interests of its own continent and to support the Turkish Cypriot side", he stated.

(CS)

[03] Ertugruloglu said that the success of any process on Cyprus problem required Ankara's support

In an interview to the Voice of America in New York, Ertugruloglu claimed that it was not right for the United Nations to insist on continuing the Cyprus negotiations process that has been going on for the past 50 years without any successful outcome.

Expressing his view that any new negotiations process in Cyprus should be held between two states on the basis of political equality, Ertugruloglu further claimed: "The process which recognizes the Greek Cypriots as representatives of a state and Turkish Cypriots as a community will not be brought back to life. Turkish Cypriots have had 50 years of their lives stolen from them?we won't allow another 50 years to be stolen".

Referring to the most recent talks held in Crans Montana, Ertugruloglu argued that it had been obvious from the start that an outcome could not have been reached.

Ertugruloglu also said that any new process will be determined following consultations with Turkey, expressing the view that the success of any process required Ankara's support. "The Cyprus problem is a national cause for the Turkish nation. It is a matter which concerns its interests, its future and its security, which is why we shall continue to work together with the motherland", he added.

Touching upon the issue of hydrocarbons, Ertugruloglu said that it emerged that the natural gas deposits discovered by the Greek Cypriot side were not commercially viable. "Nevertheless, no matter how commercially feasible the situation is, it is out of the question for Turkey to be left out of the process. The Greek Cypriot side will not be allowed to proceed on its own and the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people regarding the island's natural resources will be safeguarded at all costs" he claimed.

[04] Columnist alleges that it is time to discuss other solutions in Cyprus; The negotiations will reportedly resume after the elections

Expressing the view that the "details" are more important than the resumption of the negotiations and that the negotiations between President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci had not failed because of lack of time or rush, Munir alleges: "[?] They failed because they could agree on absolutely none of the necessary conditions for being united under a federal roof. This disagreement is not the kind [of disagreement] which could be solved with more discussion. It is not the kind of disagreement which will be solved by activating other leaders or negotiators. There are minimum conditions which both sides find vital in order to continue to exist. The Turks are not in the position of meeting these conditions of the Greeks and the Greeks are not in the position of meeting the conditions of the Turks. This is what is making the bi-communal bi-zonal federation impossible. Let us stop deceiving ourselves: There are neither the necessary conditions for a federation nor the environment which will make it viable even if it is established. For this reason, it is necessary to start thinking over other formulas and raise the issue for discussion in both sides of the Green Line. One of these formulas is confederation. Confederation is a form of administration established by two independent states which act jointly on the issues of defence, foreign relations, internal trade and money. [?]

The first condition in order for a confederation to be possible is to convince the Greek Cypriots. For this it is absolutely necessary for Turkey to abandon its unilateral intervention right, withdraw the army it maintains on the island and decrease the capital and the people it exports to the island to a reasonable level. Another indispensable condition is to satisfy the Greek Cypriots on the issue of the properties and the lands taken from them in 1974. These are not considered serious concessions in return for an independent recognized TRNC member of the EU.

What is important for the West is for the Turks and the Greeks to sit at the table even though the possibility of reaching a solution is zero. As long as they are at the table, the possibility of the resumption of intercommunal violence and a conflict between Turkey and Greece is low. The Cyprus problem is at the bottom of the West's problem list. [?] It could be said that the Cyprus problem is a problem which is not important for anyone else than the Cypriots. Therefore, the Cypriots should look for solving their problems by themselves without waiting for much help or sympathy from abroad. [?]"

(I/Ts.)

[05] Reactions to the thousands of "citizenships" granted by the occupation regime

Havadis recalls that the self-styled interior minister had stated that 4,603 persons were granted "citizenship" within the period 16 April 2016 ? 31 March 2017. The "government" continued granting "citizenship" to 30-40 persons during every meeting of the "cabinet" and the number of those who have been granted "citizenship" since then exceeds 10,000, if the members of the families are taken into account.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (21.09.17) describes as "noteworthy" the birth place of the persons, who have been recently granted "citizenship". Most of them were born in Adana, Reyhanli and Altincioglu areas in Turkey. There are also "new citizens" born in Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and Nigeria.

Under the title "Citizen in 24 hours", Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (21.09.17) refers to the case of a young woman from Turkey, who visited the occupied area of Cyprus as a tourist and thanks to the intervention of "prime minister" Huseyin Ozgurgun, she was granted "citizenship" and received an "identity card" within 24 hours upon a decision by the "council of ministers".

The Revival Party (YDP) [of the Turkish settlers] reacted to the issue. In a written statement issued yesterday, the party criticized Ozgrurgun and argued that the process of granting "citizenship" has been turned into a "shady relation" and that "nepotism, bribery, misappropriation and even the personal liaisons of those people" were involved in this. The party said it was a "disgrace and disrespectful" for thousands of people, who are waiting for "citizenship", the fact that some persons are granted "citizenship" overnight upon a decision by the "council of ministers".

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (21.09.17) reports that Tufan Erhurman, chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) argued that the "citizenships" granted upon a decision of the "council of ministers" and published in the press, are "illegal". Noting that there are some allegations regarding bribery in granting "citizenships", Erhurman said that these allegations are about to be proven and that his party will recourse to "justice". He noted that the "government" grants "citizenship" as a favor and not as a "right".

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (21.09.17) reports that Kudret Ozersay, chairman of the People's Party (HP), said that "malodor" is coming out of allocated "citizenships" and that especially recently "citizenship" is arbitrarily granted to persons acquainted with members of the "council of ministers" in a manner which violates the rights of others. In statements to the paper, Ozersay recalled that the "council of ministers" grants "obligatory citizenships" and wondered where this obligation derives from. He criticized the fact that many persons, "who have no relation to this country in the manner described by our laws", are arbitrarily granted "citizenship", while others, who "deserved to become citizens", cannot implement this "right".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Occupied Kythrea and neighbouring villages to be paved with asphalt

According to the paper, the project will be completed in a period of 120 days with the contribution of the "Kythrea municipality" and the financial assistance of the "development and economic co-operation office" of the so-called Turkish embassy to the breakaway regime.

(CS)

[07] Putin is due to Ankara next week to meet Erdogan on Syria

In his address at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York on Sept. 20 Erdogan said: "We'll dine together on Thursday [Sept. 28] and we'll talk about the developments in Syria", adding that he will first speak with Putin over the phone on Sept. 25 before their tete-a-tete meeting takes place.

At their Sept. 28 meeting, Erdogan and Putin are also expected to discuss Turkey's purchase of S-400 anti-ballistic missiles from Russia, which has stirred concern among Ankara's NATO allies.

"As Turkey, we must exert efforts to procure S-400s, even S-500 and S-600s, given the fact that there are S-400s in Syria. These are steps we are taking for our security. There are also steps we need to take with regard to ballistic missiles", Erdogan told the business forum.

[08] No disagreements between Turkey and NATO over S-400 deal

Speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. summit in New York on Sept. 19, Erdogan said: "In a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, he reiterated previous statements that every country in the alliance is sovereign in terms of its domestic regulations and has the right to make independent decisions in this regard."

The President went on to note that the Turkish General Staff will send a delegate to Brussels in order to provide NATO with further information about relevant details of the deal.

According to some Turkish media outlets, the S-400 system will be positioned at the Ak?nc? air base in Ankara. Two missile batteries are projected to arrive in Turkey next year; two hangars and ramps have reportedly been built on the air base, in line with preparatory measures.

[09] Turkey is top country in seeking removal of content on Twitter

In its 11th biannual transparency report published on Sept. 19, Twitter said that Turkey accounted for 45% of all removal requests worldwide, with a total of 2,710 removal requests, including 715 requests by court orders and another 1,995 requests by the government between Jan. 1 and June 30.

"We have received 2,710 Turkish requests to remove content. Despite a decrease in the overall number of Turkish requests compared to the previous reporting period, the number of accounts specified increased by 10%. We have filed 273 legal objections in response to the court orders on the grounds that they did not comply with the principles of freedom of expression and/or did not specify the content at issue," the transparency report stated.

"We have withheld 204 accounts and 497 tweets in Turkey. These requests cited violations of personal rights under Article 24 of the Turkish Civil Code and other local laws, such as defamation under Article 125 of the Turkish Criminal Code or Article 7 of the Anti-Terror Law," it added.

Twitter also said it had received eight requests from governments to take down content posted by journalists and news organizations in the first half of 2017 but did not act on any of them "because of their political and journalistic nature".

Out of the eight, five were court orders or other legal demands from Turkey ordering Twitter to take down content from journalist sites or news outlets.

Twitter also stated that it filed legal objections to court orders involving Turkish journalists and news outlets wherever possible, but none of them had prevailed. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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