Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 18-01-16

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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] Burcu: The Deep Sea Metro-2 will start drillings in Eastern Mediterranean

[02] Turkey's Energy Minister reiterated that Turkey will send first drilling ship in the Mediterranean very soon

[03] Denktas calls on UBP and HP to cooperate – Statements on establishing a "coalition government" continue

[04] Turkish frigate TCG Orucreis is docked in the occupied port of Famagusta

[05] Teachers complained to the "ministry of education" that appointed teachers by Turkey at Hala Sultan Theological college apply religious oppression to the students

[06] Erdogan: "Syria operation may start at any moment"

[07] Cavusoglu criticized the US of being on the side of terrorists

[08] Gazprom to invest $3.2B in TurkStream for 2018

[09] The end of Turkey's EU bid

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Burcu: The Deep Sea Metro-2 will start drillings in Eastern Mediterranean

Burcu, who issued a written statement claimed that the "insistence of President Anastasiades in his wrong attitude which also sabotages the development of Turkish-Greek relations and his latest statement that they will carry out the so called Exclusive Economic Zone coordination assessment work with Greece in the marine spaces in the North of Cyprus will lead the island and the region to new tensions".

"These irresponsible and unilateral initiatives of the Greek Cypriot administration, either because of the elections of for other reasons can cause damages that will not be possible to be reimburse" he alleged, adding that it is unavoidable the Turkish Cypriots to take steps to protect their rights and interest. Burcu also noted that even in the report of the UN Secretary General is noted that the natural resources of the island belong to both communities and that cooperation is needed for evaluating them. However, he said "Anastasides rejected the entire proposal made by Akinci and included the discussion of the issue either in political level at the negotiation table or at technical level with the establishment of a special committee".

Burcu also said that Akinci had many times protested Anastasides' manner both at the UN and the related sides of the international community.

"The Greek Cypriot administration by using the opportunity of its unilateral recognition tries to shift the solution of the Cyprus problem from the negotiating table to the other fields. In this respect, the fait accompli created by the Greek Cypriot side in the platforms where the Turkish Cypriot collocutors were not present, for example the fait accompli they tried to produce on "Security and Guarantees" during the 4th Med7 Summit of the EU Southern EU Countries are not serving for the efforts towards solving the Cyprus problem" Burcu claimed.

(CS)

[02] Turkey's Energy Minister reiterated that Turkey will send first drilling ship in the Mediterranean very soon

(…)

Albayrak hailed 2017 as a successful year for oil and natural gas exploration and said that Turkey's first drilling ship will be sent to the Mediterranean Sea for offshore oil and gas exploration in the region as soon as possible.

The country has already undertaken oil and gas exploration using two seismic ships, but the vessel will be the country's first active drillship.

The South Korean vessel was manufactured in 2011. It is 229-meters long and is capable of drilling to a maximum depth of 12,190 meters.

[03] Denktas calls on UBP and HP to cooperate – Statements on establishing a "coalition government" continue

Moreover, he expressed the view that the situation does not necessitate new "early elections", adding that there are people in his party who wish cooperation with the UBP, but many say that they should not forget the "deceits" by the UBP against the DP. Furthermore, Denktas called on the UBP and the HP to behave with reason and establish a "government" since this is the result which came out from the ballot box.

Meanwhile, according to the paper, UBP's chairman, Huseyin Ozgurgun continues his silence. However, notes Havadis, "the ropes stretched" due to the demand expressed by the general secretary of the settlers' Revival Party (YDP), Bertan Zaroglu who asked as pre-condition for two "ministries" to be given to his party [in order to participating in a possible "coalition government" with the UBP and the DP]. It is noted that according to information, YDP wants two "ministries" and the DP three. Ozgurgun, however, has reportedly shared the view that that a "government" with 26 "seats" in the "assembly" and depended on pre-conditions will not function anyway.

Furthermore, Tufan Erhurman, chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) has said that they are holding "unofficial contacts" for establishing a "four party coalition". He noted that they are not bargaining for "ministries" but are trying to understand each other's intentions.

Finally, in statements to the paper, Erhan Arikli, chairman of the settlers' YDP, said that they have received no proposal for establishing a "coalition government" and reiterated that the important thing for YDP is to hold new "early elections" in June, adding that everybody should accept this. He noted that they will participate in a "government" which will lead the "country" to "elections" and that it is not important whether this "government" will be established with the UBP or with the CTP.

Arikli was asked to comment on an article he had published 20 years ago in a Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper threatening that he would torture those, who described Turkey as occupation power in Cyprus, put out his cigarette on their body and use them as punch-bag. He argued that he regrets for what he said, he was "crazy then" and he is "not the same Arikli now".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Turkish frigate TCG Orucreis is docked in the occupied port of Famagusta

According to announcement by the Turkish Cypriot "security forces", the frigate is docked in the occupied port of Famagusta and will be open to public visits.

(DPs)

[05] Teachers complained to the "ministry of education" that appointed teachers by Turkey at Hala Sultan Theological college apply religious oppression to the students

The paper's reporters have in their hands the signed letter, which was sent by the teachers to the "ministry" on December 29, 2017.

In this letter, there is the claim that the vocational teachers, who are coming from Turkey as assigned, behave us they are the real administrators of the school and the oppression is applied by the assigned teachers and their assistants. It is also reported in the letter that the students who stay in the dorms of the Hala Sultan Theological College are awaken by force to perform prayers.

Moreover, there were also allegations in the letter that Quran reading competitions are organized with exchange of expensive prizes and an Islamic view of politics is being created. The theology teachers also told them that "those students who will attend the New Year's celebrations will turn into stones".

(DPs)

[06] Erdogan: "Syria operation may start at any moment"

Turkish military units are already deployed in Afrin, a district of Aleppo near the Turkish-Syria border, which is under siege by the PKK/PYD terrorist organization.

"Then, the turn will come for other regions," Erdogan added.

"We are hitting with howitzers, and we will continue [to hit]. Will we withdraw into our own shells and wait for you to hit? We had already advised them that these terrorist organizations should be destroyed", Erdogan stated.

"We said: 'We can never accept you trying to destroy Daesh terrorist organization via another terrorist organization [PKK/PYD].' If we are strategic partners, you should cooperate with us," Erdogan said.

On the recently-announced U.S. plan to form a border army led by the terrorist PKK/PYD, Erdogan said: "The U.S. has admitted to forming a terrorist army along the Turkish border," vowing that Turkey would kill that army before it is born.

"It is this 30,000-strong terrorist army that will point a gun at the U.S. soldiers there when they get into trouble," he said.

"Lower your flags on the bases of terrorist group by yourself so that we won't have to hand them over to you," Erdogan warned Washington.

Erdogan also cautioned Turkey's allies against helping terrorists in Syria.

"Do not come between us and the terrorists, do not come between these herds of murderers and us. Otherwise we won't be responsible for the consequences."

[07] Cavusoglu criticized the US of being on the side of terrorists

Speaking to journalists in Canada's Vancouver city, Cavusoglu said: "The U.S. must clarify which side it is on, whether it chooses to be with its allies or terror groups?"

His remarks came following an announcement made by the U.S.-led international coalition against Daesh on Sunday that it would establish a 30,000-strong new border security force with the SDF -- the U.S.-backed group, largely controlled and manned by the PKK/PYD terrorist organization in Syria.

Cavusoglu warned that they will take their own measures [against terror groups]. "Regardless of who backs them; whether it is the U.S. or other countries, it doesn't matter to us", he added.

About a possible Afrin operation in Syria, Cavusoglu stated Turkey will fight against the PYD terrorists in Syria just like it did against the PKK.

Also on Monday, Cavusoglu attended the inauguration ceremony of the Turkish Consulate General in Vancouver, Canada.

He said that Turkey was a key player for achieving world peace and tolerance. "Turkey will continue to play a significant role for peace and prosperity around the world," he added.

Referring to the regional crisis in the Middle East, he stated that Turkey had been doing its best to help preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya.

Cavusoglu is currently in Canada to attend the Vancouver Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Security and Stability on the Korean Peninsula, which will demonstrate solidarity against the nuclear and missile threat from North Korea.

Among the countries attending are Australia, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

Regarding bilateral relations between Canada and Turkey, Cavusoglu said the two countries were "good allies".

(…)

[08] Gazprom to invest $3.2B in TurkStream for 2018

Alexander Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the management committee said that in 2018 the company wills almost double its investments in TurkStream compared to last year.

He also said that the company will spend another 114.5 billion roubles to Nord Stream II, which will carry 55 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to Germany per year.

Medvedev reminded that the company spent around 92.8 billion roubles in TurkStream last year.

The first line of the TurkStream natural gas project will reach the Turkish shore in May of this year and will be in service at the end of 2019.

The TurkStream project consists of two lines, the first of which will serve Turkey with a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters, while the second line is planned to serve Europe.

Four hundred and fifty kilometers of pipes will be laid over a 930-kilometer route under the Black Sea to reach the Thrace region of Turkey along the Black Sea coast.

[09] The end of Turkey's EU bid

"Turkey's EU membership dream has come to an anticlimactic end. This is even more apparent after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Paris last week. President Emmanuel Macron did not mince his words when he publicly announced that there was no way Turkey could join the EU given the current state of Turkish democracy.

Instead he proposed a new relationship between Ankara and the EU. One that amounts to a special partnership for Turkey but keeps it anchored in Europe. There is nothing new in this suggestion of course. France and Germany have been pushing this for a decade now.

Ankara, however, has insisted that it will settle for nothing short of full membership, and has called on the EU persistently to honor its commitments to Turkey in this regard.

It is more than clear that Europe rarely acted within the spirit of its commitment to Ankara after it agreed to accept Turkey as a candidate country and opened membership talks with it.

As soon as those talks started, France in particular – under Nicolas Sarkozy – began to back-pedal and say Turkey was not a European country and could never become an EU member, even though Paris had accepted Ankara's candidacy and endorsed the opening of membership talks. Germany's position was more or less similar. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would let membership talks go ahead, for the sake of past commitments, but on the condition that talks were "open ended." This meant in effect that membership was not guaranteed even if the negotiations were concluded successfully. Turkey, however, was also disingenuous about EU membership, especially regarding the necessary democratic reforms. Many have argued that these reforms should not be seen as concessions to Europe, but as major gains for the country itself, designed to increase Turkey's international prestige, even if they did not result in EU membership. Ankara acted, however, as if to say: "If you don't give me membership then there is no need for me to push for advanced democratic reforms." In other words, advancing democracy and human rights was seen as a quid pro quo for EU membership.

One cannot entirely blame the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) either, even if the party has been in government since 2002. The same understanding existed under previous governments, who sought EU membership as a matter of prestige, rather than as a means to advance Turkish democracy.

Their argument was that Ankara would fulfill its commitments regarding democracy and human rights after EU membership. In the meantime Turkey needed special dispensation prior to membership to fight terrorism and deal with the unique threats emanating from its delicate position on the map.

The state of Turkey's democracy today is as bad, and in many cases much worse than it was in the past. Any sensible person can see that Ankara's EU bid, regardless of how much resistance there is to it in Europe, has no hope of moving ahead under these circumstances. It is also clear that the present government cannot introduce reforms to advance democracy and human rights without loosening its hold on power. This is clearly why it is not too perturbed over the fact that Turkey's EU bid has effectively ended. The current administration is clearly happy enough to deal with Europe from the position of a third rate democracy, because this comes free of the encumbrances posed by the democratic criteria Ankara would need to fulfill for EU membership. The European side, for its part, is also happy over this arrangement, because good ties with a Turkey that has no hope of joining the EU, but which continues to deal with Europe over practical issues, is the best arrangement it could dream of. As the Turkish saying goes, both the buyer and the seller are happy enough under this arrangement".

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

https://www.pio.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio2013.nsf/All/EDB254ABD6F3EAE1C225816F00425E83?OpenDocument

(AK / AM)

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