Nami briefed the KTTO members on measures taken by the "government" on the currency crisis, fuel price hike and on the issue of bringing electricity from Turkey via cable as well as on the "laws" that have been prepared on these issues.

Also responding to KTTO members' questions, Nami said: "Before making any further investments, we have decided to wait for the issue of bringing electricity from Turkey to become prominent. The cost and interconnection are important for us."

Stating that in the long term the state of Turkish Cypriots was not as bad as before, Nami said: "I hope the government starts to meet your expectations in a short period of time. I hope our people can attain a new port, a new hospital, new industrial area, internet infrastructure and electricity to be brought via cable from Turkey".

[04] Problems in the tenders for the works regarding the opening of Apliki and Deryneia crossing points

He said that the last date for making a tender for the works related to the opening of the barricades was yesterday and no Turkish Cypriot firm applied due to the problems faced by the firms when they take a contract of the "state". However he said steps were taken so that these issues are overcome since they all care about the opening of the barricades which will contribute to the efforts for solving the Cyprus problem.

(CS)

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Erdogan expresses 'deep sorrow' over Greece wildfire

Erdogan conveyed his condolences to Tsipras on the loss of lives and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

The Turkish President told the Greek Premier that he shares the pain of the Greeks, and Turkey remains ready to help Greece, the source added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli spoke with their Greek counterparts and offered Turkey's help.

Moreover, Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin extended his condolences to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the Greek people via a tweet and said Turkey was ready to help.

[02] Cavusoglu: 'No need for Turkey to go along with US Iran sanctions'

Mevlut Cavusoglu made the remarks while visiting Azerbaijan's capital Baku at a joint news conference alongside Elmar Memmedyarov, his Azerbaijani counterpart.

Highlighting that Turkey opposes U.S. sanctions on Iran, Cavusoglu said: "We go along with UN sanctions like every country, but we do not necessarily need to go along with sanctions imposed by U.S. or U.K. against Iran."

He added Turkey also does not agree with U.S. sanctions on Russia. "We do not find those sanctions right. This is a principle stance. It does not depend on any other condition," he said.

U.S. officials met Turkish companies on July 19 and with Turkish officials of the Foreign Ministry, Treasury and Central Bank on July 20 about the issue of a new round of sanctions against Iran.

Many Turkish companies are prime trade partners with Tehran.

Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Memmedyarov, who also spoke at the news conference, said the two top diplomats exchanged views on how to use Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway "effectively".

"Afghanistan is facing difficulties in its freight train transportation. Therefore, with the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, more loads can be transported along with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," he said.

Azerbaijan and Turkey have several joint projects, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Gas Pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway and Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP).

[03] Ankara: No problems with delivery of F-35 fighter jets

"Following the bill's passing [in the U.S. Senate], this issue, as you know, is completely at the disposal of U.S. President [Donald Trump]. During our meeting in Brussels, Mr. Trump has also shown us the written statement he made. Such an issue [the banning of the delivery of F-35 jets] is out of question," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said when asked by reporters, referring to his meeting with Trump on July 11 during a NATO summit in the Belgian capital of Brussels.

The Turkish president spoke to reporters following a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) group meeting in parliament.

"We have made a $900 million payment so far [for the sale of the F-35 jets]. And the delivery of two of them was made to us there [at the defense contractor Lockheed Martin's headquarters in Fort Worth in Texas]. And our pilots are now conducting their training flights [in Luke Air Force Base in Arizona]. We do not have any concerns at this point," Erdogan noted.

Erdogan's statements came after U.S. Senate and House negotiators reached an agreement on July 23 on a defense policy bill that includes a number of provisions including barring the transfer of F-35 jets to Turkey temporarily.

Reporting on the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (25.07.18) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated the following: "The administration holds the authorization rights regarding this deal. There are no setbacks about the purchase of F-35 jets. Two of the jets have already been received and training [of Turkish pilots] continues."

"The United States and any other country should understand this. You cannot get any results from Turkey by imposing sanctions or insisting. Dialogue, diplomacy and respect help getting results from Turkey," he added.

[04] Erdogan: "Israel is the most fascist, racist state in the world"

"This [nation-state] law is the proof beyond reasonable doubt that Israel is the most Zionist, most fascist and most racist state," Erdogan said in his weekly address to his Justice and Development Party (AKP) group in parliament on July 24.

"This Israeli understanding is no different from Hitler's search for a pure race," said Erdogan, comparing the Israeli Parliament's nation-state law as the emergence of Hitler's soul among some Israeli rulers.

"There is nothing like war except for Israel's massacre and atrocity on Palestinians," the president said, describing Israel as a "terror state" over continued killings and oppression on Palestinians.

Erdogan called on the international community and countries to move against Israeli attacks on Palestinians. "I call on the Islamic world, the Christian world, all democratic and liberal states, non-governmental organizations, and media members to move against Israel," he added.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS / ICH)

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