Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-11-15

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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] Akdag is illegally visiting the occupation regime for the "UDI"; Akdag: "We will continue protecting Turkey's and the Turkish Cypriots' legitimate rights and benefits in the island"

[02] Yildirim: "Turkey will continue to support the Turkish Cypriot people and the TRNC in every sector"

[03] The Deputy Speaker of the TGNA held "contacts" in the occupied area of Cyprus

[04] A delegation of foreign parliamentarians is illegally visiting the breakaway regime for the "celebrations"

[05] "Hundreds of TRNC citizenships were granted by the coalition government prior to pre-election restrictions"

[06] Arikli: "We will open Varosha"

[07] Toros to be a candidate with CTP for the forthcoming "elections"

[08] Erdogan discussed regional issues and bilateral ties during his contacts in Kuwait

[09] Celik called the EU to open Chapters 23 and 24; The EU cannot limit ties with Turkey to counterterrorism and refugee deal

[10] Turkey's MFA criticizes US' response to secret Raqqa deal between YPG and Daesh

[11] MHP's Bahceli pledges full support to AKP for 2019 elections

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akdag is illegally visiting the occupation regime for the "UDI"; Akdag: "We will continue protecting Turkey's and the Turkish Cypriots' legitimate rights and benefits in the island"

Akdag was welcomed at the illegal Tymbou airport by so-called deputy prime minister and "minister of finance", Serdar Denktas.

Meanwhile, according to illegal Bayrak television (15.11.17) speaking during the "parade" which took place today in the occupied part of Lefkosia within the framework of the "celebrations", Akdag conveyed to the Turkish Cypriot "people" greetings from Turkish state and government officials, claiming that the "establishment of the TRNC indicates the peoples' willpower to protect themselves".

Referring to the end of the Cyprus negotiation process, Akdag alleged that it is obvious once again that the Greek Cypriot side is not good-willing for a solution of the Cyprus problem. He further claimed that "motherland Turkey will continue strengthening its unshrinking ties with the TRNC". "Nobody should expect cutting our ties with the TRNC. Everybody and especially the Greek Cypriot side should abandon false dreams and illusions. We will not allow to the Greek Cypriots the unilateral possession of the island. We will continue protecting Turkey's and the Turkish Cypriots' legitimate rights and benefits".

Alleging that the "continuous development and retrieving a viable structure in the TRNC" is amongst Turkey's priorities, Akdag added: "You as a community should continue living in freedom, prosperity and security. The per capital income of the Turkish Cypriots has reached to 13-14 thousand dollars. Why should it not climb up to 25 thousand dollars", Akdag wondered.

Recalling the water transferred from Turkey to the "TRNC", Akdag stated that Turkey will continue its works for the transferring of electricity from Turkey to the "TRNC" with underwater cables, while at the same time, as he claimed the Turkish Cypriots will be benefited very soon from "health services and new hospitals to be built".

(AK)

[02] Yildirim: "Turkey will continue to support the Turkish Cypriot people and the TRNC in every sector"

Claiming that they will not accept the continuation of the inhuman isolation and restrictions imposed to the Turkish Cypriots, Yildirim argued: "We will take the necessary steps towards this way in a determined and cooperative manner. My government is determined to continue to support the Turkish Cypriot people and the TRNC in every sector".

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Yildirim argued: "The TRNC, which is the most valuable work of the struggle that Turkish Cypriots gave for equality and freedom standing up to the injustices and difficulties that were exposed to, is the guarantee of the indispensable rights of the Turkish Cypriots. Despite the obstacles that it has to face since its foundation, this young and dynamic country, which has built a modern state structure with a management system and pluralistic democracy, adopting the principle of rule of law and respecting human rights, has pioneered the meaning of stability, peace and cooperation in the island and in the region and has always been proud of the Turkish nation".

Yildirim further argued that the Turkish Cypriot side has every time displayed in the negotiations that have been going on for half a century that it has a strong will for a just and permanent comprehensive solution. It proved at the last Cyprus conference on July that Turkey was one step ahead, Yildirim alleged.

(DPs)

[03] The Deputy Speaker of the TGNA held "contacts" in the occupied area of Cyprus

Speaking during the meeting, Akinci underlined the importance of the visit by Aydin, claiming that "the TGNA's support every year is certain".

On the Cyprus problem, Akinci alleged that even though the Turkish Cypriot side is not the side which left the negotiating table they are not willing as he said to wait for another 50 years to pass for negotiations to take place which will yield no results.

In his turn, Aydin reiterated that Turkey will always stand by the Turkish Cypriot "people" side adding that they will continue supporting all the "TRNC's decisions on the just cause".

Aydin expressed also Turkey's support to the "TRNC" during his meetings with Ozgurgun and Siber.

(AK)

[04] A delegation of foreign parliamentarians is illegally visiting the breakaway regime for the "celebrations"

Ak?nc? provided information about the upcoming "general elections in the TRNC" and informed the parliamentarians that a new "parliament" will be "elected" in January next year.

Speaking during the visit, Siber asked for the support of the parliamentarians "for the removal of the international isolations imposed on the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people".

The paper also writes that speaking on behalf of the delegation the "deputy speaker of the Kosovo assembly" Muferra Sinik, stated that she always accepts with pleasure the invitations issued to her by the "TRNC". She also argued that 114 countries have recognized Kosovo so far and expressed the wish the "TRNC" to be recognized soon as well.

She also stated that the two "countries" should politically support each other.

Reporting on the same issue, Star Kibris (15.11.17) stated that the foreign parliamentarians come from Ghana, Kenya, Gambia and Madagascar.

(CS)

[05] "Hundreds of TRNC citizenships were granted by the coalition government prior to pre-election restrictions"

According to the paper, Egemen Bagis, the former Turkey's Minister for EU affairs and Head of the Western Studies Centre of Aydin University, has also obtained the "TRNC citizenship". The paper further reports that "the council of ministers on a meeting on November 10, decided to grant the TRNC citizenship to Egemen Bagis, born on April 23, 1970, in Bingol according to article 9 of the citizenship law, paragraph (1), clause (C)".

On the same issue, the paper reports that the "council of ministers decided also to grant the TRNC citizenship to the Turkish businessman Emrullah Turanli, born on January 15 1963 in Ikizdere". It is also reported that Turanli is the owner of the Tasyapi Group and the operator of the occupied airport of Tymbou.

Furthermore, the paper reports that the names of Bagis and Turanli were included in the latest list of 519 in total persons, who were "granted the TRNC citizenship". The list with all the names is published in the paper.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (15.11.17) reports that Egemen Bagis, in his social media account, thanked those who celebrated his "double citizenship", with the encouragement and invitation of his "TRNC prime minister" Huseyin Ozgurgun. He also sent wishes to celebrate the birthday of the "TRNC", the "state" which he has reportedly defended for a long time in the international NGO and political environment.

Meanwhile, columnist Mert Ozdag, writing in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (15.11.17) under the title "Will the new citizens be able to vote? Certainly they will!" reports that the "president of the supreme court" and so-called chairman of the "supreme election board" Narin Ferdi Sefik, replying to the questions of Havadis' journalist Bertug Sopal, said that the new "voters" could also be able to vote, except of those who have a pending case in the "courts". Sefik referred to the "appeal" that was filed by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) demanding the cancellation of the 58 "exceptional citizenships", which were "granted" by the "council of ministers".

(DPs)

[06] Arikli: "We will open Varosha"

He made these statements speaking to Bayrak television where he said that 20 Turkish Cypriots will be included in the candidates' list of his party, among them the Turkish Cypriot poet Bulent Fevzioglu.

He claimed that in case his party comes to power they will open Varosha for the re-habilitation of the former inhabitants under the UN supervision. He alleged that he even discussed this issue with Turkey adding that they will not allow the situat?on to remain the same.

He also claimed that they will activate again the mines in occupied Lefka, a development which will provide the area with important economic gain.

Arikli expressed the intention to resign from the party in case ŐD will not receive a 10% at the forthcoming "elections".

Finally, he argued that "granting citizenships" should not be politically exploited, adding that "citizenship" should be granted to those that are allowed to have it, a target to be set with 1/3 analogy with the Greek Cypriot side and special criteria to be set in accordance with the population of the Greek Cypriot side.

(CS)

[07] Toros to be a candidate with CTP for the forthcoming "elections"

He also stated that due to this development he will leave his post as the chairman of the Chamber as of today.

(CS)

[08] Erdogan discussed regional issues and bilateral ties during his contacts in Kuwait

On the second stop of a three-day visit, which began with Russia on Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the improvement of bilateral economic ties in addition to regional issues with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah.

The meeting between the two leaders was held at Bayan Palace, where Ankara's relations with Gulf countries were also discussed. The two leaders witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for incentives on direct investment and cooperation protocol on science and technology.

Erdogan and his delegation also discussed the Gulf crisis and steps that need to be taken to resolve it peacefully.

The bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Kuwait was $1.2 billion in 2016. Turkey's exports to Kuwait include iron and steel, motor vehicles and automotive parts, machinery and boilers and garments and accessories while the country imports organic chemicals, plastic and plastic articles, mineral fuels and oils from the Gulf emirate.

According to Development Minister Lutfi Elvan, economic ties are developing rapidly with Turkish contractors now carrying out some $6.3 billion worth of projects in the oil-rich country as of 2016.

In 2013, Turkish construction group STFA won a $488 million contract to build a port in Kuwait.

In 2015, Limak won the contract to build a new terminal at the airport for a total cost of $4.3 billion – the largest contract won abroad in a single package by a Turkish contractor. The ground-breaking ceremony for the project took place in early May with Erdogan in attendance.

The new passenger terminal in Kuwait is currently being built by Turkey's Limak Construction and will have the capacity to handle 25 million passengers per year while accommodating all aircraft types with 51 terminal gates. Although the project's timeline has a six-year completion date, the project will be completed in four.

The defense industry is another area of cooperation between the two countries, which have held joint military exercises. Turkey sold 80 armored personnel carriers and 12 anti-riot water cannon vehicles (TOMA) to Kuwait, which has expressed interest in cooperating with Turkey in pilot training.

In terms of tourism, Turkey now represents a premier holiday destination for Kuwaitis, with more than 70,000 visiting the country in 2014, compared to only 20,000 four years earlier. Turkey's political policies, too, are deeply aligned with those of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.

According to Kuwait's official KUNA news agency, Kuwaiti investment in Turkey hit $5 billion in 2015, especially after the implementation of Turkey's freehold property ownership law, which allows Gulf citizens to own property in Turkey.

Kuwait Turk Participation Bank, founded in 1989, is an example of the burgeoning economic cooperation between the two countries, and in terms of overall asset size, the bank is now considered one of Turkey's leading Islamic banks.

Meanwhile, according to the GCC Chambers of Commerce Union, commercial exchanges between Turkey and Kuwait currently stand at around $2 billion, KUNA reported.

Erdogan is scheduled to visit Qatar as the last stop to weigh regional issues, particularly the Gulf crisis that began when a Saudi-led coalition imposed a blockade on Qatar in early June. The visit is also expected to result in a number of agreements.

[09] Celik called the EU to open Chapters 23 and 24; The EU cannot limit ties with Turkey to counterterrorism and refugee deal

"Turkey cannot solely be seen as a military headquarters in the fight against terrorism or a camp for refugees. We do not accept being a country solely to cooperate on the issues of refugees and the fight against terrorism, as I demanded the opening of Chapters 23 and 24, in the EU accession process," Celik said during a meeting of the Parliament's Planning and Budget Committee late Monday.

He further described as contradictory the fact that the Chapters which are related to issues for which Turkey has been criticized, have not been opened yet. Celik reiterated that Turkey favors full membership talks and will not accept any other suggestions.

Claiming that Europe's stance on the PKK terrorist organization and Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) has been the main issues affecting relations between Turkey and Europe, Celik added: "Our expectation is the prevention of FETO and PKK activities. When their activities are prohibited, relations will improve faster."

Touching on the issue of upgrading Turkey's customs union agreement with the EU, Celik said that Turkey, with its respective institutions, is ready for the process, awaiting steps from the European Council. He also stressed the significance of economic ties and said that political debates need to be excluded from the process of upgrading the customs union.

(…)

[10] Turkey's MFA criticizes US' response to secret Raqqa deal between YPG and Daesh

"It is an extremely grave and eye-opening revelation that the so-called "Syrian Democratic Forces" dominated by PYD/YPG, brokered a deal with the terrorist organization Daesh to evacuate a large number of terrorists from Raqqa while the operation to clear Daesh from Raqqa was already underway," the statement read.

The Foreign Ministry said that Turkey "deplores" the US-led coalition and U.S. Department of Defense's statements, in which they expressed their respect for the deal and called it a "local problem."

"The deal sets a new example of the fact that fighting one terrorist organization with another would eventually result in these terrorist organizations colluding with each other."

(…)

On Tuesday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim slammed the U.S. for defending the deal. Y?ld?r?m said: "Siding with a terrorist organization for demolishing another terrorist organization is not the kind of work which should be done by states. This work is shocking", Yildirim said, pointing out the danger the escaped Daesh terrorists from Raqqa pose to the world.

"Those Daesh members, who were freed with their weapons, will be able to cause the killing of innocent people, notably in Turkey, Europe and America," Yildirim further said.

[11] MHP's Bahceli pledges full support to AKP for 2019 elections

"Our party, together with the AKP, will struggle for the full establishment of the presidential system in 2019 in line with the conscience of August 7 [2016] and April 16," MHP leader Devlet Bahceli told his parliamentary group on November 14.

On Aug. 7, 2016, Turkey's three political parties gathered at a rally held under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to jointly condemn the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, in a show of unity and solidarity against the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO), believed to be behind the attempted takeover.

On April 16, a constitutional referendum was held throughout Turkey on whether the country should keep the current parliamentary system or become an executive presidency.

The AKP and the MHP voted in favor of the changes, while a "no" bloc consisting of the main opposition Republican Party (CHP), the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and a group of dissidents within the MHP stood against it.

Recalling that CHP leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu had described the 2019 elections as a vote between democrats and those supporting a one-man system, Bahceli vowed his party would not stay silent in the face of a bloc between the CHP and the HDP.

"If the CHP and the HDP form a new bloc and attempt to seek revenge of the April 16 referendum, then the MHP will not remain silent and idle. We will struggle for the establishment of a new system with the AKP," he said.

Bahceli repeated his party's view over an ongoing debate on the current 10% electoral threshold in Turkey.

Denying claims that the MHP was worried about staying below the electoral threshold, as recent polls have shown, Bahceli insisted the MHP had no "barrier problem." "It's not because we are concerned about the threshold. But we have shared our opinions over the fact that the governance system has changed, and it obliges us to revise the election system. An executive presidency system will introduce stability in governance," Bahceli stressed.

"It is only Turkey and the Seychelles that have a 10% electoral threshold and it needs to be re-evaluated", Bahceli argued, urging the AKP to address the issue through legislation.

(…)

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(AK / AM)

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