Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 18-12-28

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

[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Cavusoglu: "We have no energy to lose in the Cyprus issue, whatever happens, happens"

[02] So called Turkish ambassador: A basic foreign policy for Turkey to benefit from the natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean

[03] CTP celebrates 48th anniversary

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Turkish TV watchdog orders halt to show over actors' remarks on Erdogan

[02] Turkish Foreign ministry strongly condemns Israel's plans to build around 2,200 housing units in West Bank

[03] President Erdogan slams CHP leader over 'legitimacy' comments

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[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Cavusoglu: "We have no energy to lose in the Cyprus issue, whatever happens, happens"

Under the title "Timetable is a pre-condition", Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog (28.12.18) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "We need to determine the timetable and what and how we are going to negotiate it. We need a result oriented process. We do not have any energy to lose. Whatever happens, happens."

Speaking at a conference organized by the Sabahattin Zaim University's politics club, Cavusoglu referred also to the Cyprus problem. He argued that Cyprus is one of their national causes, adding: "They call it a frozen conflict but and we are taking the necessary steps to solve the Cyprus problem. Reaching a settlement does not depend on us alone. There are two other guarantor countries and two sides in Cyprus. What we are saying now is that negotiating for the sake of negotiating is nothing but a lost of time. We need to determine beforehand what we are going to negotiate and how we are going to negotiate it. We need a timetable?we need a result oriented process as we have no energy to lose, whatever happens, happens. We are following the Cyprus cause closely".

(DPs)

[02] So called Turkish ambassador: A basic foreign policy for Turkey to benefit from the natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean

Illegal Bayrak (28.12.18 http://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=energy-policies-in-the-eastern-med) broadcast that a panel discussion entitled the "Energy Policies in the Eastern Mediterranean" has been held at the "Cyprus International University" in the occupied part of Lefkosia.

The "Turkish ambassador to Lefkosia" Ali Murat Basceri and the "deputy prime minister and foreign minister" Kudret Ozersay attended and addressed the event.

Speaking first, Basceri touched upon Turkey's international expansion policies and said Turkey was a global actor. On the Eastern Mediterranean, he said that "it was a basic foreign policy for Turkey which has the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean to benefit from the natural resources there and to protect its legitimate interests".

"It is not possible to realize initiatives which are against international law and good neighbourly relations and aim to exclude our country, the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriots in the region. Our stance is clear on this matter" Basceri said.

He also warned that ?if everyone acts as though there is no problem in Cyprus and as though everything is normal then this will trigger new problems?.

"The Greek Cypriots and Greeks and a few third parties must understand this well" said Basceri.

He said especially third parties that are coming together and forming trilateral relations and taking action contrary to good neighbour relations in the region will not be ignored by Turkey.

"Turkey will not remain unresponsive to these third parties" the so-called Turkish ambassador said.

Ozersay, for his part, said that "the Greek Cypriot side had put forward the solution of the Cyprus problem as a precondition for sharing the natural gas reserves on the island and called for this approach to be looked into".

"Both peoples on the island have permanent sovereignty rights on the natural reserves not the states. The states who represent the people have rights in accordance with the ratio of the people" said Ozersay and alleged that the Republic of Cyprus "does not have a normal state status and does not represent the two peoples on the island and therefore it is not possible for it to stake a claim on all the resources".

Ozersay also said that the natural resources on the island belong to the two "peoples".

[03] CTP celebrates 48th anniversary

Illegal Bayrak (28.12.18 http://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=ctp-celebrates-48th-anniversary) broadcast that the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Tufan Erhurman has said that "the CTP was the guarantee of the Turkish Cypriot people to live in peace and in equal and just conditions on these soils".

Erhurman issued a written statement on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the establishment of the CTP.

Stating that the CTP had built its policies on two main axes since its establishment, he said the first one was to reach a solution as soon as possible with the aim of maintaining peace and predictability on the island.

"Since then, it was the CTP's prior target to reach a federation based on the political equality which is the only solution formula at the negotiating table" he said.

He went on to add that the second target of the CTP was the social and economic development of the Turkish Cypriot "people", and to provide a democratic, just, equalitarian and a liberal order for the Turkish Cypriots.

"There is a long path we need to walk in order to reach peace, solution, justice, democracy and social and economic development. The CTP and its supporters are ready to walk this path and work devotedly with all segments of the people" Erhurman said.

"We will continue to respond to the evil with goodness, injustice with justice and discrimination with equalitarianism" he added.

Erhurman also said that they will continue to work for the country and the people and said "we will insistently work towards leaving a better country and a world for our children and grandchildren."

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[B] Turkish Press

[01] Turkish TV watchdog orders halt to show over actors' remarks on Erdogan

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (28.12.18 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-tv-watchdog-orders-halt-to-show-over-actors-remarks-on-erdogan-140055) reports that Turkey's television watchdog has ordered a halt to a television program on Halk TV for five episodes, while also ruling for a fine, over remarks of two famous actors on the president in a previous episode.

The Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) also ruled a three-episode ban and fine on the main news bulletin of private broadcaster Fox TV over anchorman Fatih Portakal's "call for street protest."

The remarks by veteran actors Metin Akp?nar and Mujdat Gezen on a talk show on Halk TV on Dec. 21 "exceeded the boundaries of criticism" and were "promoting the people to hatred and enmity," said RTUK in a written statement on Dec. 26.

"I believe that the only solution for us to get rid of this polarization and fights is democracy. If we can't reach that point, then perhaps the leader will be hanged from his feet like it happened in all other fascisms of the past, or he will be poisoned in a dungeon or live the end of all the other [similar] leaders, but it will be ultimately our own destruction," Akp?nar had said on the show.

Gezen had directly criticized Erdogan during the program. "He is rebuking everyone, he is pointing his finger at everybody, he tells people 'to know your limits.' Look, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, you cannot test our patriotism. You should know your limit," he said.

A lawyer of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan applied to the RTUK on Dec. 25, demanding that Halk TV be fined for "not acting in line with the law" during the program in which the two actors made comments on "fascism," which led to prosecutors launching a probe into them.

The president accused both actors on Dec. 23 of threatening him "with death and a coup explicitly."

Hours after Erdogan's statement, the Istanbul Anadolu Chief Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the two actors on charges of "insulting the president" and "threatening him with coup and death."

RTUK slapped another three-episode ban on the program and fine over journalist Y?lmaz Ozdil's remarks, who said "Turkey would have been a better country today if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had drunk a single beer."

The authority argued that his remarks promoted the use of alcohol.

[02] Turkish Foreign ministry strongly condemns Israel's plans to build around 2,200 housing units in West Bank

Turkish daily Yeni Safak (28.12.18 https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-slams-israels-approval-of-new-settler-homes-3470278) reports that Turkey's Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned Israel's approval of plans to build nearly 2,200 housing units in the occupied West Bank.

"We reject this illegal decision of Israel, which carelessly continues to violate international law, especially the relevant UN resolutions and the 4th Geneva Convention," the ministry said in a statement early Friday.

[03] President Erdogan slams CHP leader over 'legitimacy' comments

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (28.12.18 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/president-erdogan-slams-chp-leader-over-legitimacy-comments-140064) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lashed out at main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu over his accusations that the former's presidency was "illegitimate."

"It seems this person has a different understanding of what a democracy is, as he does not think about the votes of 26.3 million people, which corresponds to 52.6 percent of the overall votes. That's why he tells his aides to 'take to the streets,'" Erdogan said in an address to village heads "muhtars" on Dec. 27 in Ankara.

During a parliamentary group meeting on Dec. 25, K?l?cdaroglu said Erdogan's presidency was not a legitimate one and that he was not his president.

"I am not interested in being your president, Mr. Kemal. I am elected to be the president of my people," Erdogan said in response.

"I am elected to be the president of my people, who gave me 52.6 percent votes. You are perhaps not among this 52.6 percent of people, but you can't turn your back on the people who cast their votes to me," Erdogan said.

In democracies, the legitimacy of governments is entrusted through elections, he said, adding that the current executive-presidential system requires at least 50 percent popular support, which he says nullifies questions over his legitimacy.

"Mr. Kemal, why didn't you run for presidency? You are the leader of the CHP. That would be better for legitimacy," he said.

"K?l?cdaroglu has never been able to bring anything positive to Turkey and he will fail again in the upcoming local elections, because my people will never walk hand in hand with terrorists," Erdogan said. The Turkish President has consistently accused K?l?cdaroglu of supporting FETO and not standing against the coup plotters on July 15, 2016.

"A very good answer to those who are trying to divide this country will be given on the night of March 31," he said, referring to the local elections.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS/EH)

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