Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 18-07-24

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/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Cavusoglu: "We will not let them seize the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people on the hydrocarbons"

[02] Statements by Akinci during the joint press conference with Cavusoglu

[03] Akinci met with Lute ? Burcu issued a statement about the meeting

[04] Cavusoglu arrived last night in the breakaway regime

[05] Ozcinar attended the meeting of the TDBB which took place in Turkey

[06] Columnist criticizes Ankara pressure on the academicians

[07] A fire burned 400 donums of land in occupied Gerolakkos village

[08] The "trade balance deficit" in the occupied area of Cyprus for 2017 has reached to 1 billion 672,8 million dollars

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Cavusoglu: "If you start drilling in Cyprus, we will start"

[02] Turkish Parliament starts discussing 'anti-terror bill' amid opposition criticism

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[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Cavusoglu: "We will not let them seize the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people on the hydrocarbons"

Illegal Bayrak television (24.07.18) broadcast that Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in a joint press conference with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, following a meeting with the leaders and representatives of the political parties with "seats" in the parliament of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side should give up acting as the sole owner of the island.

Cavusoglu, first, expressed his satisfaction for being in the "TRNC" as it is traditional for the "first official visit" to be in the occupied area of Cyprus, adding that Binali Yildirim, the new Speaker of Turkey's Grand National Assembly will also pay a visit in the upcoming days as Turkish President also did.

Referring to the forest fires in Greece, Cavusoglu expressed his sadness, adding that this morning he called the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs to express his condolences and to inform him that they are ready to help. But, Kotzias responded that they do not need any additional help at this moment and were expecting rain. Despite of this, Cavusoglu stressed that they are ready to help.

Then, Cavusoglu said that he discussed with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and the party leaders about strengthening their cooperation ties, adding: "We also had the opportunity to evaluate the meeting with Lute. We continued the negotiations by accepting Guterres' proposals within the framework of April 11, 2014. But the negotiations were left half finished. The Greek Cypriot side continues to see the Turkish Cypriot side as a minority and does not want to share anything. This is the reason for the non-solution".

He further claimed: "The Turkish Cypriot people are not treated fairly. Today's embargoes and isolations are continuing. The Greek Cypriot side should give up acting as the sole owner of the island. We have also said that from now on our stance will be different on the hydrocarbons issue. We will not let them seize the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people. We have always maintained our constructive stance in order to have peace and tranquillity in the island. The truth that both sides on the island are politically equal does not change and it will not change. We will continue to have the same understanding in the coming period".

(DPs)

[02] Statements by Akinci during the joint press conference with Cavusoglu

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (24.07.18-http://www.yeniduzen.com/kibris-turk-halkinin-hakkini-yedirtmeyiz-104916h.htm) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, speaking during the joint press conference with the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu today, expressed gratitude over Cavusoglu's first "official visit" in the "TRNC" today, the first one after he assumed his duties in the new government in Turkey, stating that again Turkey continues the tradition.

"Last night we held contacts. Today, we held also a meeting with the leaders of the political parties represented in the assembly. Yesterday, we held a meeting with the US Secretary General's temporary Consultant to Cyprus Jane Holl Lute with whom we had the opportunity to evaluate the situation. Her arrival, should not be evaluated wrongby. It should not be interpreted that it means the resumption of the Cyprus negotiation talks. It is a visit in order to test the waters in the light of an evaluation by the UN Secretary General.

We, together with Turkey want peace and tranquillity in Cyprus. We want peace, cooperation and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. We want good relations between Turkey and Greece. We wish for a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem. We have always undertaken positive steps and we will not give up from doing so, as long as we get reciprocity.

Referring to the ongoing fire in Greece and the dead and injured because of the fire, Akinci expressed the Turkish Cypriot "people" sincere condolences.

(AK)

[03] Akinci met with Lute ? Burcu issued a statement about the meeting

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (24.07.18) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met yesterday at 15.30 with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' temporary consultant on the Cyprus problem Jane Holl Lute.

The paper notes that the meeting between Akinci - Lute lasted around two hours while the meeting Lute held with President Nicos Anastasiades lasted three hours.

No statements were made after the meeting.

The paper also reports that later in the evening the spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader Baris Burcu issued a statement about the meeting noting that the Turkish Cypriot side will not continue participating in the negotiation for the sake of holding negotiations.

Burcu, stating that the meeting between the Turkish Cypriot leader and Lute was fruitful, said that Akinci conveyed to Lute the constructive initiatives taken until today by the Turkish Cypriot side during the negotiations and also explained in detail the reasons which, according to Akinci, no solution was able to be reached despite the positive efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side.

"Our president clearly stated that the Turkish Cypriot side, which has been solution-oriented and pro-solution and has shown a very constructive position until now,will not be the side to continue a negotiation full of uncertainties and ambiguities for the sake of holding negotiations", Burcu stated.

(CS)

[04] Cavusoglu arrived last night in the breakaway regime

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (24.07.18) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu arrived around 19.00 last night at the breakaway regime.

Cavusoglu held a working dinner at 7.30 with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci. After the tet-a-tet meeting between the two a meeting between their delegations was held. No statements were made after the meetings.

Ankara Anatolia news agency (24.07.18) reports that commenting on his Twitter account about his visit to the occupied area of Cyprus, Cavusoglu wrote that the purpose of the meeting was to "discuss possible ways forward on the Cyprus issue in the coming period".

Kibris Postasi (24.07.18) writes that the Turkish Foreign Minister was "received" at the illegal Tympou airport by "foreign minister" Kudret Ozersay with whom he held a 20-minute meeting. As the paper noteso no one knows what was said during this conversation.

(CS)

[05] Ozcinar attended the meeting of the TDBB which took place in Turkey

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (24.07.18) reports that the "mayor" of occupied Morfou Mahmut Ozcinar attended the meeting of the administration board of the Union of Turkic Worlds Municipalities (TDBB) which took place in Duzce, Turkey.

According to the paper, along with Turkey, members of the administration boards of municipalities from Azerbaijan, Bosnia Herzegovina, the "TRNC", Kirgizstan, Skopje and Tataristan attended the meeting.

(?)

(AK)

[06] Columnist criticizes Ankara pressure on the academicians

Columnist Sami Ozuslu, writing in Turkish Cypriot Yeni Duzen newspaper (24.07.18), under the title "Nest of fear", refers to a petition prepared and signed by a group of academics in Turkey on January 2016. They made a call for an end to violence in the south-east of Turkey.

Ozuslu writes that cases have been opened in Turkey against these academicians who signed this petition due to the decree of the state of emergency. Although two and a half years have passed, many of these academicians are left without work and some are on pending trials. It stressed that no one knows what will happen and when it will happen and it is a situation of complete uncertainty.

Ozuslu further writes that there are serious allegations that Ankara put pressure on the "universities" in the occupied area of Cyprus "for further action", adding that the universities instead of being "nest of knowledge" have transformed to "nest of fear".

(DPs)

[07] A fire burned 400 donums of land in occupied Gerolakkos village

Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (24.07.18) reports that a fire which broke out in a dump in the west of the occupied village of Gerolakkos and spread in a forested land has burned 400 donums of A plot of land [Translator's note: A land measure of 1000 square meters].

As it is reported the so-called fire department of the occupation regime, "military units", the "civil defence", as well as area inhabitants, exerted efforts to extinguish the fire. The fire got under control, however, the cooling works continue.

(AK)

[08] The "trade balance deficit" in the occupied area of Cyprus for 2017 has reached to 1 billion 672,8 million dollars

Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (24.07.18) reported that according to data announced by the "state department organization" of the so-called prime minister, the "trade balance deficit" in the occupied area of Cyprus for 2017 has reached to 1 billion 672,8 million dollars.

Also, the occupation regime's exports for 2017 increased by 100 thousand dollars, compared with 2016 (in 2016 exports were 105,5 million and in 2017 they reached to 105,6 million). Also, according to the data, the imports increased by 221,200,000 million (from 1,557,2 million dollars in 2016, to 1,778,4 million dollars in 2018.

As a result writes the paper, the "trade balance deficit", increased from 1,451,700 million dollars in 2016 to 1,672,8 million dollars in 2017.

(AK)

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[B] Turkish Press

[01] Cavusoglu: "If you start drilling in Cyprus, we will start"

Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (24.07.18, https://www.sabah.com.tr/yazarlar/kadak/2018/07/24/kibrista-biz-de-sondajlara-baslariz?utmsource=widgethaber), Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke clearly on the natural gas searches in Cyprus: "We also have our platforms and we will start drilling, if they start in the fall, we will also start".

In an interview to Sabah's reporter Selale Kadak, Turkish Foreign Minister evaluated the new targets of their foreign policy and Cyprus is top in their agenda.

Noting that the axis shift in Turkey's foreign policy is not in question, Cavusoglu said: "For us, it is not correct to choose NATO, EU, Russia or the US alone". Cavusoglu further said: "We also have a platform and we will start drilling. If they start in the fall, we will also start. We prevented ENI. In the last three years, we have told the Italians and to ENI Company 'Do not enter this business, we will not allow this if the rights of the Turkish side are not guaranteed. Of course, it is not right continuously to put obstacles. If the Greek Cypriot side takes unilateral steps then this time we will also start drilling there".

(DPs)

[02] Turkish Parliament starts discussing 'anti-terror bill' amid opposition criticism

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (24.07.18 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/parliament-starts-discussing-anti-terror-bill-amid-opposition-criticism-134919) reports that the Turkish Parliament has begun deliberations on a legislative bill that introduces new measures in the fight against terrorism in a bid not to create any deficiencies after lifting the state of emergency that has been in place since July 2016.

The 29-article bill that was submitted to parliament by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been endorsed at the relevant parliamentary commissions last week through a majority of votes from the AKP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

The proposal stipulates new measures in criminal and military laws that deal with security and judicial matters concerning the "struggle against terror" and is envisaged to be in force for the upcoming three years.

According to the bill, the maximum detention period of suspects who are accused of committing crimes against state integrity, organized crime and terrorist crimes, will be four days with an option to extend this period for two times, making it 12 days maximum if deemed necessary.

With the first state of emergency decree, the maximum detention period was regulated as 30 days without a hearing, which was later reduced to seven days with an option to extension, following criticisms.

With the bill, governors will be able to prohibit individuals from exiting and entering a defined area for 15 days on security grounds where the public order or safety has deteriorated or there are serious indications that will deteriorate in such a way that will stop or divert daily life. They will also be able to prohibit carrying and transporting all kinds of weapons and ammunition, even if they are licensed.

In addition, officials of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), police department, gendarmerie as well as public servants and workers can be dismissed if they were deemed as having affiliation with a terrorist organization. Those dismissed will not be employed again in the public service, or assigned directly or indirectly.

If a court rules for their return to duty, they will be collected in a "pool" and assigned to "research centers" under the Defense Ministry and Interior Ministry.

For three more years, the state will continue to appoint trustees for terrorism-related institutions and companies. Gun licenses and passports of those dismissed or those suspended from duty will be canceled. The Interior Ministry will be able to cancel the passports of their spouses as well.

The state of emergency, imposed in the wake of the July 2016 failed coup, widely believed to have been orchestrated by United States-based preacher Fethullah Gulen's network, has been extended seven times in the last two years.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS / ICH)

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