Turkey's position regarding the said administration, and the fact that we do not recognize it, is well known. Therefore the abovementioned letter is devoid of value or meaning as far as Turkey is concerned. Within this framework, there is no question of even taking the baseless allegations in the letter into account.

As for the views expressed in the letter concerning the island, the necessary reply will be given by the authorities of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, who are the true and only interlocutors of the Greek Cypriot administration".

[03] Ertugruloglu "defended" the imposition of "tariffs" on the supplies sent to the enclaved persons

Ertugruloglu was speaking during a press conference he held at the "ministry" this morning, in response to the latest criticisms made against him regarding the "government decision to impose taxes on food and other supplies" sent by the "Greek Cypriot administration", as the Republic of Cyprus is called to Greek Cypriots and Maronites living in the "TRNC".

Ertugruloglu claimed that the past "administrations" had turned a blind eye to this issue during the ongoing negotiations process, in an attempt as he alleged, not to be blamed. "However following the collapse of the talks in Crans Montana, it was not possible to allow the Greek Cypriot administration to politically exploit this issue, claiming that it was sending 'humanitarian' supplies to its 'enclaved' citizens in the TRNC", Ertugruloglu also alleged.

He further added that the issue was conveyed to the UN officials and discussed within the "cabinet" before the "decision was taken".

Ertugruloglu also claimed that the "president's office" had knowledge on the issue in advance, before the "decision had been taken".

Also, according to Kibris Postasi (06.10.17), Ertugruloglu replied to Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci latest statement, who criticized the stance of the "government" on this issue, stating "this kind of decisions have no difference from shooting our own foot [?]".

Replying to Akinci, Ertugruloglu stated that they are not the ones who are shooting their own foot, but it is the "president who is shooting against the Turkish Cypriots".

(?.)

(AK)

[04] Columnist: The Turkish Cypriots should follow the developments in Catalonia and Iraq but stay committed to a federation in Cyprus

The columnist argues that all developments in Catalonia and in the occupied area of Cyprus are also valid for the Kurdish state in Iraq and notes that "it is not possible for Turkey, which does not approve an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq, to come forth saying 'this is different' and support the TRNC's independence". Incirli adds the following:

"No reason separates the TRNC from Kurdistan and Catalonia. Will you say that 'we were registered as separate people in 1960'? You have not been registered as people. Just like no agreement made in 1960 and around that date gives you the right to 'separate', this is forbidden [by the agreements].

There is a proposal saying that we should carry out a referendum. If I have not understood it wrongly, this is what dear Resat Akar wrote [Translator's note: Diyalog newspaper's director]. What will we say in this referendum? Will we say that we want independence? Very well, what will change? Let us say that the result is 'yes' by 30%! Will Turkey and Azerbaijan salute you? [?] In my view, you should abandon this idea of the TRNC. Say that 'we are still strongly committed to the federal solution under the UN umbrella'. The proposal for two independent states within the EU will also not be approved. Because we cannot be an independent state. This is evident now! Let me repeat that Turkey cannot say 'ok' to this now because of the issue in Iraq. [?]"

Furthermore, the columnist argues that actions and statements made by self-styled foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu cause tension and are not in the benefit of the breakaway regime. As such actions and statements, Incirli notes Ertugruloglu's proposal that the regime should adopt the Monaco or the Gibraltar model by transferring to Turkey its "powers" in "defense" and "foreign affairs", his threat that they will strike the foreign companies which search for hydrocarbon resources in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone [EEZ], his decision to impose "tariffs" on the supplies and the aid sent to Greek Cypriot and Maronite enclaved persons and the prohibition of religious services in occupied Greek Cypriot churches. He concludes as follows:

"[?] We should watch Catalonia, we should watch Iraq, we should take into account and discuss Turkey's roaring. The only way is the solution. And the model of the solution is the model which the world accepts. [?]"

(I/Ts.)

[05] Columnist assesses who encourages Ertugruloglu to make his intransigent statements and actions

"[?] One morning Ertugruloglu wakes up and forbids the religious services of the Greek Cypriots in the north. The other day he refers to the TRNC's recognition. In a later statement he gives as example Taiwan and in another one Gibraltar. He refers to an autonomous relation with Turkey. This is not enough. He attempts, in a 'not humane' manner, to tax the 'humanitarian aid' sent by the UN to the Greek Cypriots and Maronites. [?] He refers to bombing the foreign vessels which search for oil in the Mediterranean. [?] Very well, however, from whom Tahsin Ertugruloglu is taking courage while doing these moves, which will distress internationally both the Turkish Cypriot leadership and Turkey? This question is important.

Even in the period during which the negotiating process had not collapsed and it was said that it was going well, Tahsin Ertugruloglu was from time to time repeating his 'separatist' rhetoric. However, the tone was not so high. While president Akinci was giving messages for a 'federal solution', Tahsin Ertugruloglu was repeatedly referring to a 'confederation' or 'a separate structure'. Then we have been also asking whether 'Ankara says some things to Akinci and some others to Ertugruloglu'. Actually, the answer was obvious. While on the one hand Turkey was drawing a 'pro-peace' image in the messages given to Akinci, on the other it was saying to Mr Ertugruloglu 'proceed my man'. Even though some were not accepting this, there was a 'dual' situation.

The 'change of gear' recently by Ertugruloglu cannot be explained with Ankara only. Turkey continues to want the 'hawks' to fly over Cyprus but other dynamics are also being developed. One of these dynamics is the collapse of the negotiating process. However, even more important is the pessimistic rhetoric by president Akinci, especially after the Crans Montana! Akinci said that 'the last experiment of our generation also failed'. Akinci referred to 'two separate structures' addressing the representatives of civilian organizations which he gathered. He has also paved the way for Mr Tahsin! [?] As soon as he found this ground, he launched a 'game of conflict' which he thinks that will carry him to the head of the UBP in the future and/or to [his nomination as] the right-wing's presidential candidate. [?]"

(I/Ts.)

[06] An operation against FETO in 9 Turkish provinces and in the occupied area of Cyprus

(DPs)

[07] Erdogan: "Turkey to close borders and air space to KRG"

"The referendum is a cause, not an effect. The effect is what will come. On one side there is Iran, in the north there is Turkey, in the south there is the Iraqi government, in the West there is Syria. What will you do? Where will you go? All air spaces will also be closed, the flights are already suspended. Who will come? How will you go? Soon, the borders will also be closed. How will you be able to exit and enter," Erdogan said on October 5, in a meeting with opinion leaders from the southeastern provinces of Turkey.

His remarks came one day after meeting his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in Tehran, where the two countries agreed on their stance against the KRG's referendum bid, saying that they will take joint measures against the referendum.

Reiterating Ankara's objection to an independent Kurdish government in the region, Erdogan said on October 5 that KRG's efforts to form an independent entity "aims to encircle Turkey from the south."

(?)

Also, speaking to reporters on his flight back from a one-day trip to Iran on October 4, Erdogan reiterated that Turkey, Iran and Iraq will jointly decide on closing the flow of oil from northern Iraq.

"In the case of northern Iraq, Iran and Turkey will form a tripartite mechanism and will decide on shutting down the oil [from the KRG]," Erdogan said.

The KRG currently exports its oil to international markets via a pipeline that passes through Turkey.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Octobeer 4 that ending oil exports from the KRG would raise global crude oil prices. "The increase in oil prices would be better for Russia. Doesn't Mr. Putin want oil prices to rise? He should have joked," Erdogan said, adding that cutting the oil flow was a call by the countries in the region.

[08] Cavusoglu called the KRG to reconsider its "mistake within a time limit"

"There must be a time limit," Cavusoglu said, adding that the KRG had to take necessary initiatives to cancel the result of the September 25 "illegitimate referendum" in the Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Iraq. "If necessary steps are taken within that time, then ok, but if not, then the demands and steps [made by] the Iraqi administration will be important criteria for us," he added.

Regarding French President Emmanuel Macron's initiative to mediate between Iraq and the KRG, Cavusoglu said taht Ankara supported all kind of contribution for a solution to the issue between Baghdad and Irbil.

Cavusoglu recalled further that Paris also supported Iraq's borders and territorial integrity. "France stressed that this problem should be resolved within this framework and in accordance with the current Iraqi constitution," he said, adding that Ankara also saw the issue from a similar perspective.

"We have already spoken to the French administration today and we are also telling our other interlocutors that [KRG President Masoud Barzani] still can [correct] the mistake. He put the future of Iraq, especially the future of the Kurds, in danger by ignoring our calls before the referendum, but now he has to listen to this call."

Cavusoglu also stressed the need for the problem to be solved as soon as possible for the stability in the region.

[09] Erdogan set to visit Ukraine next week

Erdogan and his Ukranian counterpart Petro Poroshenko will chair the 6th meeting of the Turkey-Ukraine High-Level Strategic Council, it said in a statement.

The two leaders will "broadly" exchange views on bilateral relations and regional issues in the capital Kiev, where a number of agreements are also expected to be signed.

During his visit, Erdogan is also set to meet Parliament Chairman Andriy Parubiy and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.

He will also receive the representatives of Turkish communities, with whom he will discuss the Crimea issue.

(?)

[10] Simsek announces Turkey's plans to spend $5 bln in 2018 for new weapons

"We will transfer nearly 17-18 billion liras to the defense industry to buy new weapon systems in 2018 ? Some additional weapon systems are on the agenda to buy in an effort to overcome the risks around. We will buy them through healthy tax income rather than borrowing," Simsek said in a televised interview with private broadcaster NTV on October 5.

(?)

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