Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 19-05-29

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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] Ozersay: "Our Plan B is to abandon Plan A which serves the status quo and imprisons the Turkish Cypriots in the negotiations"

[02] Ozersay slams Denktas on the "economic protocol"

[03] Tore: AKEL is more dangerous than ELAM

[04] Hala Sultan mosque in occupied Mia Milia was turned into barracks of making political decisions

[05] ASELSAN to operate a run-up area in occupied Morfou

[06] Around 100 donums of land turned into ashes because of a military exercise

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Kizilyurek to Milliyet: "I will exert efforts so that the Turkish language to be included into the EU languages"

[02] Erdogan to discuss S-400s, US threats at high-level security meeting in Ankara

[03] Oktay: Turkey to continue fighting terrorism at its borders

[04] Turkish Defence Chief talks to US Defence Secretary

[05] Croatia to step up support for Turkey's EU bid in term presidency

[06] EBRD and Turkish bank sign $112M financing agreement

[07] Erdogan appoints former aide as member of the Higher Advisory Board

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[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Ozersay: "Our Plan B is to abandon Plan A which serves the status quo and imprisons the Turkish Cypriots in the negotiations"

Turkish Cypriot newspaper K?br?s(29.05.19) reports that Kudret Ozersay, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that the Turkish side's Plan B was to abandon Plan A which served the status quo and allegedly imprisoned the Turkish Cypriots in the negotiations. In statements to Ali Baturay of K?br?s TV, was asked whether a full agreement exists within the UBP-HP "coalition government" regarding the Cyprus problem and whether they had a Plan B, since they claimed that the negotiations for reaching a federal solution had been exhausted.

Ozersay replied that they agreed on the important fundamental issues in the Cyprus problem and alleged:

"We think that the time has come for discussing and having discussed different partnership models. Yes, we are openly saying that the federal partnership, aimed at sharing power and wealth, has been exhausted and it is not realistic and realizable under the conditions that exist today on the island and you will clearly see this in the government's program. I will not explain it at length, but our Plan B, with the simplest expression, is to abandon Plan A, which serves the status quo and imprisons the Turkish Cypriots in the negotiating table. […]

A partnership taking into basis the cooperation between the sides is much more realistic. Of course, the sides will decide on what this will be. […] For so many years, everyone understood different things regarding the federation, but continued the negotiations pretending that they referred to the same thing. […] This caused the imprisonment of the Turkish Cypriot side, which has a status problem, in the table with never ending processes. Therefore, if the Greek Cypriots are not ready to share with us under these conditions, let us not deceive ourselves by pretending that we could establish a partnership based on sharing.

If the international community will start questioning the status of the Greek Cypriots, their EU membership or the unilateral actions on the natural gas issue, a possibility of a partnership based on sharing will come up. However, as long as there is no change in these conditions, we should discuss partnership models, which will include cooperation at different levels instead of a partnership based on sharing. As government, we will exhibit an approach which will be putting forward, explaining this reality in all the contacts we will be holding in our foreign policy. […]"

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ozersay slams Denktas on the "economic protocol"

Turkish Cypriot newspaper K?br?s(29.05.19) reports that Kudret Ozersay, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that during the four-party "coalition government" they had not reached the stage of signing the "economic protocol" with Turkey and some reasons for this derived from the Turkish Cypriot side. In statements to Ali Baturay of K?br?s TV, argued that Turkey did not trust the "finance ministry" as regards the "protocol". He argued:

"[…] The essential problem was that as TRNC we could not give a trustworthy image on economic issues. We cannot say that Turkey did not want a certain name to be in the government, but they made it evident that they did not feel trust towards the finance ministry and they did not believe that they could work together in harmony. The finance ministry, which could not give trust even to us, could not build the relationship of trust with those who would give us loan and donations. […]

Mr Serdar Denktas says now that 'I am not the one who met with Turkey, Tufan and Kudret were, they are the ones who did not give trust'. They were the ones, who were shaping the economic policies, […] and directed the government wrongly on economic issues which would bring serious economic burdens. Therefore, he should know that the responsibility of creating trust in the economic relations with Turkey belonged to them. Meanwhile, our delegation also did not work correctly on the content of the economic protocol. […]"

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot newspaper Haberci (29.05.19), Ozersay said that they were looking for a formula for 280 million Turkish liras to come from Turkey to the occupied area of the island before the Bayram. Noting that their target was to bring this money quickly for making investments on infrastructure, Ozersay said that their effort was to create the "legal framework" for this money. "We are working on some temporary formulas before the economic protocol", he added.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Tore: AKEL is more dangerous than ELAM

Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (29.05.19) reports that Zorlu Tore, the " deputy speaker of the assembly and deputy" with the National Unity Party (UBP), commenting on the EU Parliament elections claimed that AKEL is more dangerous than ELAM.

"A Cypriot with a Turkish name was elected in the EU Parliament with AKEL. There is an allegation that he will defend the Turkish Cypriots in the European Parliament. […] Calls are made to the Turkish Cypriots to be with the Greek Cypriots and against Turkey and TRNC. AKEL is putting into action Makarios' and Papadopoulos' call", Tore alleged.

(CS)

[04] Hala Sultan mosque in occupied Mia Milia was turned into barracks of making political decisions

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (29.06.19) reports that the chairperson of the Turkish Cypriot primary school teachers' trade union,(KTOS) Emel Tel stated that the Hala Sultan mosque in occupied Mia Milia village was turned into a barracks of making political decisions.

Tel who issued a written statement, said that decision of establishing or making a "governments" to collapse area taken in the mosque. She also said that the AKP propaganda is taking place under the title "book fair" at the mosque.

(CS)

[05] ASELSAN to operate a run-up area in occupied Morfou

Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan (29.05.19) under the title: "Run-up area in Morfou-clear answer to the Greek Cypriots in case of an agreement: Morfou cannot be returned", reports that the pioneer company in defense industry in Turkey, ASELSAN announced that as of July it will operate a run-up area of the research center it established in occupied Morfou.

In statements on the issue, the "assistant manager" of ASELSAN, Mehmte Celik explained that in the run-up area, they will be testing the new technologies in the fields of "the production of renewable energy and civil communication" in the campus of the "Middle East technological university" ("ODTU") in occupied Morfou. The paper supports that this development constitutes a clear answer to the Greek Cypriots that even though an agreement is reached on the Cyprus problem, the occupied Morfou will not be returned to the Greek Cypriots.

(AK)

[06] Around 100 donums of land turned into ashes because of a military exercise

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (29.05.19) reports that 100 donums of land turned into ashes because of a military exercise that took place in the occupied villages of Alevka and Kalivakia.

The paper writes that the fire started yesterday morning in the area when the military exercise started.

(CS)

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[B] Turkish Press

[01] Kizilyurek to Milliyet: "I will exert efforts so that the Turkish language to be included into the EU languages"

Turkish daily Milliyet (29.05.19) reports that the Turkish Cypriot elected European MP with AKEL, Niyazi Kizilyurek, speaking exclusively to the paper right after his election at the European Parliament, explained that he is not a member of AKEL and added that he was candidate with the party in the framework of a cooperation they reached and after the party accepted his proposals. "Although there were circles in both sides that they were annoyed by this, there were other who backed and supported my candidacy. I will exert efforts so that the Turkish language, which is one of the two official languages of the Republic of Cyprus, to be included into the languages of the EU", Kizilyurek, inter alia, said.

Referring to Turkey's ties with the EU, Kizilyurek said that they are passing a bad period. He added that he is amongst those supporting Turkey's accession to the EU, adding that he opposes to the exclusion of Turkey from the EU for religious and cultural reasons. "I hope that in the new period, Turkey will undertake steps that will help it come closer to the EU", Kizilyurek said, underlining that he will speak out to the European Parliament about Turkey's EU bid.

(AK)

[02] Erdogan to discuss S-400s, US threats at high-level security meeting in Ankara

According to Turkish daily Yeni Safak (29.05.19, https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/erdoganto-discuss-s-400s-us-threats-at-high-level-securitymeeting-in-ankara-3482175), a high-level Turkish security meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday is set to discuss the latest developments regarding Turkey's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 missile defence systems and the U.S.'s sanction threats made to disrupt the deal.

The monthly National Security Committee (MGK) meeting will be held in the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara, and will also discuss "Operation Claw", which was launched by Turkey on Tuesday in northern Iraq, in addition to international relations and internal and external security matters.

Security in the upcoming Istanbul election re-run will also be on the agenda as measures to ensure the smooth running of the elections will be discussed. (…)

Meanwhile, Turkish state news agency Ankara Anatolia (28.05.19, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/turkish-president-erdogan-meets-iraqi-counterpart/1491464) reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday met his Iraqi counterpart Barham Salih at Vahdettin Pavilion in Istanbul.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and head of National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Hakan Fidan also participated in the meeting that lasted for one hour. The meeting, which was closed to the press, was followed by an iftar (fast-breaking) dinner hosted by Erdogan in honour of the Iraqi President.

[03] Oktay: Turkey to continue fighting terrorism at its borders

According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (28.05.19, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-continue-fighting-terrorism-at-its-borders-vp-oktay-143793), Turkey will continue to fight against terrorism and clear its borders of terrorists and their supporters, Vice President Fuat Oktay said on May 28.

Speaking at a fast-breaking dinner, or iftar, with a businessmen's association, Oktay praised Turkey's new counterterror operation, dubbed Operation Claw. "Turkey will continue to clear its borders from terrorists and their supporters. We will not compromise our stability," Oktay said.

The Turkish Armed Forces launched Operation Claw against PKK in Hakurk, northern Iraq, the National Defence Ministry said on May 28. The military offensive, initiated on May 27, aims to neutralize militants in the area. It began with artillery shelling and continued with airstrikes and commando operations.

Oktay also stressed that along with moves taken by Turkey in economic growth, social development and national technology, the country became a leader in humanitarian aid and assistance for development.

In the meantime, Turkey has neutralized 433 PKK/YPG militants since the beginning of 2019, the country's Interior Minister said on May 28. "There are slightly more than 600 terrorists in the mountains. It was 12,000-13,000 in the 1990s and 2000s," said Suleyman Soylu. (…)

[04] Turkish Defence Chief talks to US Defence Secretary

According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (29.05.19, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-defense-chief-talks-to-us-defense-secretary-143794), Turkey's Defence Minister on May 28 discussed security and cooperation issues with the U.S. Defence Chief.

Hulusi Akar discussed the matters in a phone call with Patrick Shanahan, the acting U.S. Defence Secretary, the Turkish Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Previously, the delivery of Russian-made S-400 systems to Turkey might be delayed until after June, but they would be deployed in the following months, Akar said on late May 27.

The deployment of the air defence systems "may not reach June, but they will arrive in the following months. The process has started," Akar said speaking at an interview on HaberTurk broadcaster.

"There are some details about the agreements we have made regarding the procurement of the S-400, within the framework of the contracts. Related institutions, organizations continue to negotiate about them," the Minister said when asked about the deployment schedule.

The Minister said that Ankara is still considering possible locations to deploy the S-400 systems.

[05] Croatia to step up support for Turkey's EU bid in term presidency

According to Turkish daily Sabah (29.05.19, https://www.dailysabah.com/eu-affairs/2019/05/29/croatia-to-step-up-support-for-turkeys-eu-bid-in-term-presidency), Croatia will put serious effort toward Turkey's long-running EU accession process during Zagreb's mandate in the rotating presidency of the European Council, which starts at the beginning of 2020, the country's envoy to Ankara said yesterday.

"Croatia will need Turkey's support in the preparation period for the term presidency. During its tenure, Croatia will put serious effort for Turkey's EU bid," Croatian Ambassador Hrvoje Cvitanovic told reporters during his visit to the Governor of western Turkey's Eskisehir. (…)

Cvitanovic also emphasized developing bilateral relations, saying that Croatia will present Turkey significant opportunities in accession and attachment with Europe. "[Croatia] will not contribute to Turkey only in trade but also in transportation. Croatia will open its doors to Turkey at heart," he said.

For his part, Eskisehir Governor Ozdemir Cakacak said Turkey and Croatia have strong ties and bilateral relations have been gradually developing.

During President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's meeting with his Croatian counterpart, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in Ankara in January, the two countries decided to launch a joint economic commission (JEC) mechanism and will convene together with the broad participation of Turkish and Croatian businesspeople in order to reach the goal of increased trade volume between the two sides.

[06] EBRD and Turkish bank sign $112M financing agreement

According to Turkey's state news agency Ankara Anatolia (28.05.19, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/economy/ebrd-turkish-bank-sign-112m-financing-agreement/1491403), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Industrial Development Bank of Turkey (TSKB) signed an agreement to provide €100 million (nearly $112 million) financing for Turkish businesses.

The EBRD and the TSKB will provide €50 million (some $56 million) each for the lending package for private industrial companies, according to a press release on Tuesday.

"The EBRD will share the risk of up to 50% of each individual sub-loan provided to eligible businesses identified jointly by the two lenders," the European Bank said.

The agreement was signed by Jurgen Rigterink, the EBRD first vice president, and Suat Ince, chief executive officer of TSKB.

During the signing ceremony, Rigterink stressed the EBRD's continued commitment to Turkey at a critical time when banks' lending capacity is limited. "This is likely to slow down the country's economic recovery. We expect the Turkish economy to start to pick up by 2020," he underlined.

The EBRD said that clients would be able to use these loans to finance working capital, capital expenditure and refinance existing loans. Ince stressed that financial support for the private sector is a key factor for the current rebalancing process in Turkey. As a leading institutional investor in Turkey, the EBRD has invested more than €11 billion ($12.3 billion) in over 280 projects in the country since 2009.

[07] Erdogan appoints former aide as member of the Higher Advisory Board

According to Turkish news portal Turkish Minute (28.05.19, https://www.turkishminute.com/2019/05/28/erdogan-appoints-former-aide-as-member-of-higher-advisory-board/), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has appointed former Deputy Prime Minister and Parliament Speaker Bulent Ar?nc as a member of the Presidential Higher Advisory Board, Turkish media reports said on Tuesday.

Ar?nc, who also served as spokesperson for Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the past, has not been in active politics for four years. He was last elected to Parliament in 2009.

"Some people said I was finished. Now I'll be near our President; he will chair the Higher Advisory Board, and I'll be a member of it. This kind of job is awarded for loyalty (…)" said Ar?nc, responding to his critics. His remarks came during a fast-breaking dinner in his hometown of Manisa on Monday evening.

Ar?nc is the first member of the Presidential Higher Advisory Board, which was established with a presidential decree on May 15.

He recently came to public attention with his criticism of several AKP figures such as former President Abdullah Gul, former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and former Minister Ali Babacan, who are reportedly making preparations for the establishment of a new political party.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(DPs/AM)

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