Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-09-27

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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] Aktag alleges that economic development will bring the solution

[02] Ertugruloglu continues his "contacts" in Washington

[03] Veysel Eroglu announced the "signing of an irrigation project" between Turkey and the occupation regime

[04] Turkey and the occupation regime signed a "cooperation protocol" for the "installment of CCTV traffic control cameras across the regime"

[05] The "mayor" of occupied Rizokarpaso is annoyed by the allegation that they buy food sent to enclaved Greek Cypriots as aid

[06] Fifteen more "citizenships" were granted

[07] Erdogan: "Barzani's decision to hold referendum is a betrayal to Turkey"

[08] Zeybekci warns that it will be a mistake for Turkey to cut trade ties with KRG

[09] Celik: Freezing or suspension of EU talks will be regarded as interrupting negotiations"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Aktag alleges that economic development will bring the solution

Referring to the Cyprus negotiations, Aktag alleged that they have been interrupted again because of the Greek Cypriot side's lack of will and claimed: "Of course, the TRNC will continue this process by taking its own decisions, knowing that Turkey stands by its side".

Noting that they are working on the establishment of a mechanism which will strengthen the relations between Turkey and the breakaway regime, he said that within this framework they could materialize new projects or revise part of some projects through discussions.

Aktag added that a technical group [from Turkey] visited the occupied area of Cyprus and that he will also pay an illegal visit within the forthcoming period.

In his statements, Denktas thanked Aktag for accepting to meet with him in spite of his busy schedule and alleged: "Turkey has many problems. There is a zone of fire around it. Luckily, we in Cyprus have been living for many years outside this zone of fire under the protection of the Turkish armed forces and Turkey. […]"

Reiterating the allegation that the bi-communal bi-zonal federation has not been accepted by the Greek Cypriots as a solution model in Cyprus, Denktas claimed that from this point of view, time has come for Turkish Cypriots to head towards a different direction.

"The fact that we have reached a per capita income of 14-15 thousand dollars today from 500 dollars, has happened thanks to the cooperation we have with Turkey", he argued and alleged: "We must enter into a period during which we will further increase these 15 thousand dollars. For this reason, we must get rid of uncertainty now. We must stop abandoning our fate to the mercy of the Greek Cypriots. And in this sense, we have elections next year, God willing, during the new period, we will carry out our affairs with new enthusiasm […]"

Denktas said that the main reason for the visit of the delegation, headed by himself, to Turkey was to discuss the work carried out within the framework of the "cooperation protocol" signed with Turkey in view of the new "budget" year.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ertugruloglu continues his "contacts" in Washington

During the meeting, Ertugruloglu briefed the congress members on the Cyprus problem.

Following his "contacts" at the US Congress, Ertugruloglu then attended a round-table meeting organized by the International Republican Institute where he briefed participants on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue.

During his "contacts", Ertugruloglu provided detailed information about the Cyprus negotiations process which collapsed in Crans Montana and expressed the need for the UN to change the modalities of that.

He also alleged that the Turkish Cypriot "people" is waiting for support from the international community for the lifting of the "embargoes imposed on the TRNC".

[03] Veysel Eroglu announced the "signing of an irrigation project" between Turkey and the occupation regime

"The 5.2km-long tunnel, which will cost an estimated 101 million Turkish Liras to complete, will carry the water from the Gecitkoy Dam [occupied Panagra dam] to Morfou and the Mesaoria plain in order to be used for agricultural purposes", Eroglu said.

Eroglu stated further that once the project is completed, the farmers will be earning an additional 700TL per acre of land farmed.

He further claimed that the water will also be used to replenish underground water resources.

Stating that they were expecting to irrigate 75 thousand acres of land as part of the first stage of the project, Eroglu claimed that the "water transfer project which, has numerous parts has solved the TRNC's water problems".

[04] Turkey and the occupation regime signed a "cooperation protocol" for the "installment of CCTV traffic control cameras across the regime"

The protocol was "signed" yesterday in Ankara by the so-called minister of interior Kutlu Evren and his Turkish "counterpart", Suleyman Soylu.

Evren alleged that the CCTV cameras, as part of a system will be installed in all major cities, starting first from occupied Lefkosia and Keryneia.

Evren further claimed that "the installment of the cameras and the security system has become inevitable as there are people from more than 134 countries residing in the TRNC, either for work or study purposes".

He explained that a total of 544 live recording CCTV cameras will be installed at 169 locations, adding that the "police" will be in charge of the monitoring.

Soylu stated that the project will be overseen by the ASELSAN Company, which is also in charge of the security systems in Turkey.

He further stated that a total of 52 million Turkish Liras of investment will be made as part of the "project".

The system, once installed, aims at increasing efficiency in preventing crime and upgrading security across the country.

Meanwhile, according to illegal BRT, Evren met with the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Spokesman Bekir Bozdag as part of his "contacts" in Ankara.

The meeting which took place at the Cankaya Palace, was closed to the press.

Speaking to illegal BRT in Ankara, Evren announced that "the work on the joint cooperation protocols signed with Turkish officials will commence soon".

Referring to the "cooperation protocol" "signed" for the "instalment of a city security management system in the TRNC", Evren claimed the following: "Just as in other parts of the world, our country needs such an investment for internal and external security. The cost of this entire project will be covered by Turkey and this is a real opportunity".

Evren announced further that during his meeting with the Bozdag "a protocol had been signed for the construction of a new central prison in the TRNC".

[05] The "mayor" of occupied Rizokarpaso is annoyed by the allegation that they buy food sent to enclaved Greek Cypriots as aid

In statements to the paper, Coskun criticized the fact that the inhabitants of the area are presented as "hungry people who wait to buy cheaply" this humanitarian aid.

Coskun argued, inter alia, the following: "Let no one present us as people who need the aid received by the Greek Cypriots to live. Let them go elsewhere to do their politics. They should not insult us. […] The politicians of both sides should live us alone. They should not follow their policy over us. Unfortunately politicians coming from the Greek Cypriot side also try to sow the seeds of separatism. There are Greek Cypriot politicians who also behave like Mr Tahsin [Translator's note: The so-called foreign minister of the occupation regime Tahsin Ertugruloglu]. I am not discriminating. I am making this call on both sides. […]".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Fifteen more "citizenships" were granted

(I/Ts.)

[07] Erdogan: "Barzani's decision to hold referendum is a betrayal to Turkey"

"Frankly, we did not give credence until the last moment, that Barzani would make a mistake like this," Erdogan said on Sept. 26 in Ankara, reiterating that the referendum is "null and void" regardless of the result.

"This means that we were wrong. The decision, which was taken without a prior consultation or meeting, is a betrayal to our country in an era where our relations were at their best level in history," Erdogan said.

(…) "Iraqi Kurds would go hungry if Turkey halts the flow of trucks and oil across the border with northern Iraq", Erdogan argued.

"[They] will be left in the lurch when we start imposing our sanctions," Erdogan said, adding: "It will be over when we close the oil taps, all [their] revenues will vanish, and they will not be able to find food when our trucks stop going to northern Iraq."

Erdogan further said the only country to support the KRG's push for independence was Israel. "Who will recognize your independence? Israel. The world is not about Israel. You should know that the waving of Israeli flags there will not save you," he said.

"If the only support for the KRG's referendum is given by Israel and if the [outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party] PKK starts celebrating [the results] even before the polls close, then there can be neither innocence nor legitimacy." Erdogan said.

Erdogan warned the Iraqi Kurdish leader against pushing for independence, saying such a move risked sparking an "ethnic war" in the region.

"If Barzani and the Kurdish Regional Government do not go back on this mistake as soon as possible, they will go down in history with the shame of having dragged the region into an ethnic and sectarian war," Erdogan added.

"They don't have an idea on how to be a state. They think that they are a state just by saying it. This can't and won't happen," Erdogan said.

[08] Zeybekci warns that it will be a mistake for Turkey to cut trade ties with KRG

"During the crisis with Russia in 2015, the first thing they did was [restrict] trade. They tried to teach a lesson to Turkey through trade. This was very wrong. I wouldn't find it right to repeat this mistake in the same way [against the KRG]," Zeybekci said on Septepter 26.

Zeybekci stressed that the Cabinet did not take any decisions to impose sanctions on the KRG in its last meeting on September 22, saying that talking about "economic embargoes" are dangerous for a country like Turkey that wants to become a regional hub of finance and trade.

"When our national interests oblige us to do otherwise, then we, as the Economy Ministry will act accordingly. But our current response as Ministry is to make sure that our trade continues with 'business as usual.' There was no decision made at the last Cabinet meeting to change this view of ours [regarding trade with the KRG]," he said.

Zeybekci also stated that the Cabinet has not decided to close Turkey's only border gate with the KRG, the Habur border gate.

"The trade volume between Turkey and Iraq is currently at around $8 billion, $2.5 billion of which is with northern Iraq", Zeybekci noted.

"The KRG's current debts to Turkish businesspeople stand at around $1.8 billion, while many Turkish nationals do business in northern Iraq", he stressed.

"When you impose an embargo, your trade and exports stop. People may criticize me now saying 'We talk about Mosul and Kirkuk as sacred causes but you are just talking about trade.' But my job is trade. I am the Economy Minister and I have to reflect this side of the coin," Zeybekci said.

On the rocky relationship between Turkey and Germany, Zeybekci said that he expects ties between the two partners to recover following the latter's recent election. "I believe this backsliding in Germany will end," he said, claiming that Berlin acknowledges that its stance with regard to Turkey after the July 2016 coup attempt was wrong. "I think we'll speedily reach to a point [of good relations] with Germany," Zeybekci said, adding that he hoped the election results in Germany "awaken German politicians" and help stand up against racism and radical political parties.

(…)

Zeybekci also denied reports that Germany would impose an economic embargo on Turkey due to poor political ties, but said some restrictions on weapons' sales had been observed.

Supporting that one of the immediate effects of Turkey-German tension has been the suspension of the process to upgrade the Customs Union, Zeybekci voiced skepticism over this suspension.

"The European Commission, which unanimously suggested expanding the scope of the Customs Union in December 2016, cannot say 'No, we don't want it now.' Upgrading the Customs Union with Turkey will be to the advantage of the EU," he alleged.

"The fact that 50% of all white goods used in Europe are produced in Turkey and that 80% of all vehicles we produce here are sold to Europe, creates an interdependent relationship. We are tied to each other. We cannot break up so easily," Zeybekci added.

Touching on the long-standing question of a possible visa-waiver being granted for Turkish citizens visiting EU countries, Zeybekci noted that such a waiver should be granted to all Turkish nationals and businesspeople considering the large trade relationship. "We have no visa problem with the EU; the EU has a visa problem with Turkey," he said.

Regarding the ongoing disagreement between Turkey and Russia over the former's efforts to re-start the export of tomatoes to Russia, Zeybekci said an agreement on this longstanding issue was "very likely." He also denied that it will be done in return for Turkey's purchase of meat from Russia.

(…)

Zeybekci also noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in Ankara on Sept. 28, though the tomato issue will not be on the agenda of his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

[09] Celik: Freezing or suspension of EU talks will be regarded as interrupting negotiations"

"Talking about freezing or suspending relations between the EU and Turkey, a big strategic power and a great state, is not a simple job. So let me declare it for the first time: We will regard any move to freeze or suspend [accession talks] as an interruption of the negotiations," celik told private broadcaster A Haber on September 26.

Celik further added that Turkey would not accept a relationship with the EU that stipulates the continuation of "transactional ties" but a suspension of the accession process, after a number of EU countries expressed willingness to put an end to Ankara's full membership talks.

(…)Touching on the results of the German election, which saw the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) enter the Bundestag for the first time, Celik criticized both Merkel and the social democratic SPD's leader Martin Schulz for using "similar language to ultra-nationalists."

He warned that Turkey-Germany ties could further deteriorate "if Merkel adopts far-right language in order to re-gain the votes she lost to the AfD."

"But if she draws a lesson from this picture and adopts more reasonable relations and language after the election, we are ready for this. I have already told them this," Celik said.

However, I hear that the German Foreign Ministry is sending diplomats to many countries to ask what they can do against Turkey's EU accession process," he added, warning that this stance "will only help strengthen far-right parties." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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