Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 18-02-14

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

CONTENTS

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Erdogan: "What business an Italian ship has in Cyprus?"

[02] Cavusoglu: "We protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people, of Turkey and of TRNC"

[03] Albayrak: "Turkey exercises rights legally derived from international maritime law in Eastern Mediterranean"

[04] Yildirim: The Aegean Sea should be 'friendship' sea between Turkey and Greece

[05] Statement of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to a question on the statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece

[06] "More lynching provocations" will reportedly take place against Afrika; "nationalist organizations" accused Akinci for following an unbiased stance

[07] YDP asked for "legal actions" against the Afrika newspaper

[08] The "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry" participated in the Fruit Logistica fair in Berlin

[09] A "paragliding world cup" to take place in the occupied area of Cyprus with the participation of twenty countries

[10] Turkey continues to put on jail journalists and politicians

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Erdogan: "What business an Italian ship has in Cyprus?"

Addressing the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) parliamentary group yesterday, Erdogan claimed that those who go beyond their limits in Cyprus should not make wrong calculations by taking advantage of the developments in the south of Turkey. "As we have spoiled the scenarios of those who have miscalculated at our south borders with the Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch Operations and soon with the steps which we will take in Mumbich and other areas, we spoil and we will spoil and their calculations as well", he alleged.

Referring to the foreign companies who are activated in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Erdogan advised them not to become instruments in "issues which go beyond their limits and power trusting the Greek Cypriot authorities".

Asked whether the Italian ship which would carry out drillings was sent away from Cyprus' open sea, Erdogan replied: "What business an Italian ship has in Cyprus?"

Called to comment on the allegations regarding a clash between a Turkish and a Greek ship near Imia rock area in the Aegean, Erdogan claimed that "these Greeks were confused again", adding that Turkey had from the beginning said to the Greeks not to come and go in the area, not to put Ankara in a difficult situation and leave the dogfights and the fights in the sea aside. "Of course, when these are not left aside, our soldiers do their duty. Last night something like that happened. The issue ended without any problem", he alleged.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Cavusoglu: "We protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people, of Turkey and of TRNC"

Speaking to the TRT Channel from Kuwait, he claimed that the Greek Cypriots have never approached the solution of the Cyprus problem and that the Turkish Cypriots have rights over the natural gas. "|If you do not want to share these then we will protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people, the TRNC and Turkey."

Claiming that they wanted to maintain friendship and good neighborhood relations with Greece, he expressed the need for acting with common understanding in order to achieve this.

In addition, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (14.02.18) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu replied to the EU's criticisms on Cyprus in an interview with state-broadcaster TRT on Feb. 13.

He alleged that many EU leaders admit that both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are right in the criticisms against "Greek Cypriot unilateral actions off the island in their private conversations".

"The only thing to do is for the Greek Cypriots to abandon unilateral actions in the eastern Mediterranean," Cavusoglu claimed.

[03] Albayrak: "Turkey exercises rights legally derived from international maritime law in Eastern Mediterranean"

The paper reports the following: "Turkey's blockade of Italian energy firm ENI's rigging operations in the Eastern Mediterranean to explore hydrocarbon resources has echoed in the Greek Cypriot administration [Cyprus government], Greece and the European Union. The escalating diplomatic lambasts; however, blur the issue of legality while ignoring the sovereign rights of Turkey and Turkish Cyprus [breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus] on the natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak emphasized that Turkey will not allow the spread of ignorance toward and violations of Turkish Cyprus's rights and will exercise its legal rights to the fullest extent.

(…)

Speaking at a ceremony in Ankara, Albayrak highlighted Turkey's robust determination to continue protecting its sovereign rights and the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people in the eastern Mediterranean region. 'Turkey will not allow any parties to neglect or ignore Turkish Cyprus and its citizens and will exercise its rights bestowed by internationally acknowledged laws'. Albayrak also stressed that Turkey will conduct efficient energy diplomacy and politics in the region."

Meanwhile, self-styled deputy of the National Unity Party (UBP) of the "parliament" in the occupied area of Cyprus Sunat Atun, "former economy and energy minister", told Daily Sabah that Turkey is reportedly protecting its rights derived from international maritime law by sending warships to the region. According to the international maritime law, he alleged that national territories have a continental shelf up to 200 miles while the islands have territorial waters extending up to 14 miles. "The so-called 6th Block, within this territory, falls within the limits of Turkey's 200-mile continental shelf", he claimed.

Meanwhile, Turkey's first drillship, the Deepsea Metro 2, arrived to the country by the end of December, according to Monday's shipping data, with exploratory offshore drilling in the Mediterranean to begin in early 2018.

[04] Yildirim: The Aegean Sea should be 'friendship' sea between Turkey and Greece

ANKARA

Aegean Sea should be 'friendship' sea between Turkey and Greece: Turkish PM

Ankara has "explicitly" told Greece that refraining from tensions would be "better" for bilateral ties, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Feb. 14, adding that the Aegean Sea should be a "friendship" sea between the two countries.

Talking to the media at Ankara's Esenboga Airport before leaving for Belarus, Yilidirim said: "We explicitly expressed to him [Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras] that staying away from tensions will be better, with regards to relations between the two countries."

His remarks came a day after he and Tsipras spoke over the phone and discussed recent developments in the Aegean Sea.

He said the Aegean Sea should be a "friendship" sea between Turkey and Greece.

"Recently, there have been some violations in this tension, which started with the Kardak islets, to which we gave a response," Yilidirim said.

He added that the two Premiers agreed to ease tensions and keep communication line open via political and diplomatic channels.

Yildirim said a NATO General Staffs meeting would be held in May.

"In this framework, the chiefs of the general staffs of the two countries will gather and mutually discuss the necessary measures to ensure tensions in the field do not escalate further," he added.

[05] Statement of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to a question on the statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece