Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 19-09-05

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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] Erdogan: Turkey could sent a third drillship to the Eastern Mediterranean

[02] Lute meets with the leaders again

[03] Reference to a proposal on natural gas reportedly submitted by President Anastasiades

[04] Tore condemns Akinci and Burcu

[05] EVKAF: No one with conscience should accept usurpation of properties by those having power

[06] The "cost of living" in the occupied area of Cyprus increased by 0.38% in August

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Erdogan: "It is unacceptable that Turkey can't have nuclear weapons"

[02] Turkey's Kalin discusses Syria safe zone with a US official

[03] Turkish forces begin training in Russia for S-400 defense systems

[04] Turkish Trade Minister: "Turkey loses $3B in trade under no-deal Brexit"

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[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Erdogan: Turkey could sent a third drillship to the Eastern Mediterranean

According to illegal Bayrak television (05 09.19-https://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=erdogan-speaks-on-east-med), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Turkey could be sending a third drillship to the Eastern Mediterranean.

"We shall not be deterred by threats," Erdogan said as he addressed members of his party on Thursday.

Reminding that the US arms embargo imposed on Turkey after the 1974 "Turkish peace operation", [Translator's note: as he called the Turkish invasion in Cyprus] had pushed her to develop her own defense sector, Erdogan said that his country will not bow down to threats or pressure.

He said that Turkey was in the hydrocarbons game due to its timely purchase of drilling and research vessels. "Turkey now has two drillships and two research vessels. We could consider investing in a third drillship. We are actively in the game and our drillships are being protected by our navy. No one can deny our rights in the region. We have a say as a guarantor country," Erdogan said.

[02] Lute meets with the leaders again

Turkish Cypriot illegal Bayrak (05.09.19, https://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=lute-holds-fifth-round-of-talks) broadcast that UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute held a new round of meetings with the two leaders on Thursday as part of her efforts to find an agreement on the terms of reference for the resumption of Cyprus talks. Lute met with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci first and afterwards held a meeting with President Anastasiades.

In a written statement issued after today's meeting, Akinci's spokesman Baris Burcu said that the possibility of another meeting with the UN special envoy existed. He added that Akinci would be briefing the leaders of the political parties represented in the "assembly" [of the breakaway regime] on Saturday, September 7 at 10am.

Under the title "Lute camped in Nicosia", Turkish Cypriot newspaper Havadis (05.09.19) reports that Lute continued the contacts she started with the leaders on Sunday and she was determined not to leave the island until she got what she wanted. Noting that the UN envoy exerts efforts for the sides to reach an agreement on the principles and the modality of a possible negotiating process, the paper writes that the Turkish side had repeatedly stated that the agreements reached in the past, the joint statement of 11 February 2014 and the Gurterres Framework should be included in the "terms of reference". Citing "sources close to the UN", Havadis reports that after a "serious progress" on the terms of reference is achieved, Lute might join the two leaders in a tripartite meeting for finalizing the agreement.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Reference to a proposal on natural gas reportedly submitted by President Anastasiades

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kibris (05.09.19) and the majority of the Turkish Cypriot Press report that, according to information published in the Greek Cypriot press, President Anastasiades responded to Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci's proposal on the hydrocarbons by submitting a counter proposal, which provides for 30% of the income from the natural gas to be given to the Turkish Cypriots before the solution of the Cyprus problem by creating a special fund. Under the front-page title "He submits proposals to be rejected", the paper argues that in this proposal "very serious preconditions are set ignoring the Turkish Cypriot administration".

Kibris notes that it has obtained information according to which it was true that President Anastasiades had submitted a proposal to Akinci on 9 August. "Three important preconditions by Anastasiades make the proposal unacceptable", claims the paper adding that these three "preconditions" are the following: 1) The hydrocarbons issue will not be administrated together with the Turkish Cypriots, who will be briefed only through a mechanism which will be established. 2) Turkey will recognize the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus before the solution of the Cyprus problem, according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982. 3) If Turkey agrees with the Republic of Cyprus on the above two paragraphs and signs an agreement, the Turkish Cypriot side will be given a share from the income from the natural gas according to its population percentage.

Under the title "30% share before the solution", Turkish Cypriot newspaper Afrika (05.09.19) reports that the proposal is "impressive" adding that it was submitted in writing to Akinci. Commenting on the issue, Afrika's publisher, Sener Levent, argues that the Greek Cypriot side was afraid because of Turkey's drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, which "forced the Greek Cypriot side to take this step". Under the title "Will you say no to this as well?" Levent notes that the Greek Cypriot side wants the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations much more than the Turkish side, "because it believes that with this process it will get rid of Turkey's threats". The columnist says that Ankara "does not want the resumption of a new negotiating process, because it worries that this process will harm its activities in the Easter n Mediterranean".

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Havadis (05.09.19) refers to President Anastasiades' proposal under the title "EEZ sovereignty in return of money".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Tore condemns Akinci and Burcu

Turkish Cypriot daily Günes (05.09.19) reports that Zorlu Tore, "deputy" with the National Unity Party (UBP) and "deputy speaker of the assembly", accused Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and "presidential spokesman", Baris Burcu of weakening the Turkish Cypriot side on the "national cause".

In statements during a televised program in the occupied area of Cyprus, Tore claimed that Burcu's statement that Turkey's guarantees is not a taboo, gave an appetite to the Greek Cypriot side on this issue.

Referring to the ongoing contacts in the island of the UNSG's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Jane Holl Lute, Tore recalled that a lot of UN's mediators have visited the island until today and claimed that Lute is the same with the others. He alleged further that it is not possible for a midway to be found. "Even if they say that it has been found, it would be a trick", Tore alleged, claiming that "the terms of reference to be formed would be misleading since they would not be prepared on the essence of the Cyprus problem".

(AK)

[05] EVKAF: No one with conscience should accept usurpation of properties by those having power

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Vatan(05.09.19) reports that Ibrahim Benter, director of EVKAF religious foundation has asked support for his organization regarding the properties case in the occupied fenced-off city of Varosha, which will be examined at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on 4 November. In a written statement, Benter alleged that this was a case that concerned the entire humanity, because the foundations were established to serve humanity. He argued that giving a property reserved for the common good to private persons was accepted nowhere in the world.

"Will the ECHR say that the Brits, by making legal amendments, gave a land reserved for orphans to a tourism company to build hotels and this is right", he wondered and added: "Then let those who have power go and usurp any kind of property. No one who has conscience should accept this situation".

(I/Ts.)

[06] The "cost of living" in the occupied area of Cyprus increased by 0.38% in August

Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (05.09.19) reports that according to a statement issued by the "chairman" of the "TRNC's statistical authority", Turel Ozer Oksuzoglu, the "cost of living/inflation rate" in the occupied area of Cyprus for August, 2019 increased by 0.38%, compared to last month. Also, compared to last December a change of 9.12% is shown and compared to last year 14.10%.

According to the paper, the average index price of 270 products in the occupied area of Cyprus has increased, while for 186 products, has dropped.

(AK)

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[B] Turkish Press

[01] Erdogan: "It is unacceptable that Turkey can't have nuclear weapons"

Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (05.09.19-http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogan-says-its-unacceptable-that-turkey-cant-have-nuclear-weapons-146303) reports that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sept. 4 that it was unacceptable for nuclear-armed states to forbid Ankara from obtaining its own nuclear weapons, but did not say whether Turkey had plans to obtain them.

"Some countries have missiles with nuclear warheads, not one or two. But (they tell us) we can't have them. This, I cannot accept," he told his ruling AKP members in the eastern city of Sivas."There is no developed nation in the world that doesn't have them," Erdogan said.

He also referred to one of his visits to a former leader who sought to make more nuclear missiles, as many as the U.S. and Russia. "I'm not going to reveal the name [of the leader]," he said, adding that the leader was then a President.

"That leader said, we have about 7,500 nuclear warheads. Russia and the U.S. have about 12,000-15,000 missiles. We will build more as well. They will compete for building more nuclear warheads," Erdogan said quoting a former President.

Turkey signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in 1980, and has also signed the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which bans all nuclear detonations for any purpose.

Erdogan hinted that he wanted the same protection for Turkey as Israel.

"We have Israel nearby, as almost neighbors. They scare (other nations) by possessing these. No one can touch them."

(…)

[02] Turkey's Kalin discusses Syria safe zone with a US official

Ankara Anatolia news agency (04.09.19-https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/turkish-us-officials-discuss-syria-safe-zone-/1573314) reported that according to a statement by the Turkish Presidency, Turkey's Presidential aide Ibrahim Kalin and U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton spoke over the phone on Wednesday and discussed operationalization of the agreed safe zone in northern Syria.

"Turkish side completed its preparations as part of the implementation of Turkey-U.S. joint operational plan without delay," said the statement.

During the phone call, Kalin and Bolton discussed the details to accelerate the steps to be taken for the safe zone in northern Syria, protecting the Idlib consensus, completing the establishment of the Constitutional Commission and implementing the measures to prevent new refugee influxes.

(…)In the phone conversation, Kalin and Bolton also discussed the developments in Syria, fight against terrorism, bilateral trade relations, as well as the latest situation in Libya, added the statement.

They also discussed steps to be taken to increase the bilateral trade volume, the expected visit of U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to Turkey in the coming days, as well as the meeting between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the U.S. President Donald Trump as part of Turkish President's visit to UN General Assembly on Sept. 22-25 in New York.

[03] Turkish forces begin training in Russia for S-400 defense systems

Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (04.09.19-http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-forces-begin-training-for-s-400-defense-systems-146289) reported that the Turkish Air Force personnel are attending a training for S-400 missile defense systems in Russia.

"S-400 training started in Gatchina, Russia with the participation of Air Force Command personnel as part of long-range air-and-missile defense system project," Turkey's Defense Ministry said on Sept. 4 in a tweet.

Ankara received its first Russian S-400 missiles in July. The delivery of the first battery was completed on July 25.

"The second batch of equipment of the S-400 was received on Aug. 27, and the delivery is slated to continue for around one month", according to Turkey's Defense Ministry.

(…) In the meantime, Ismail Demir, the President of Turkey's State Defense Industry Institution said on Sept. 4 that the S-400s would be ready at full capacity, including trainings and other activities, until April 2020.

"The procurement first and second batteries will be completed until the end of September and then, the first setup will be finished until the end of 2019. However, when we take training and software works into account, [the S-400s] will be available for use in full capacity in April 2020", Demir said in an interview with a private broadcaster.

"After the initial shipments conclude, the delivery of the second system including the third and fourth S-400 batteries will finalize by the end of 2020", Demir said.

(…)Regarding the possible procurement of the Russian Su-35 and Su-57 fighter jets, Demir said that making such a decision is a long process that depends on many parameters, but Turkey is taking all offers into consideration. "The Su-35 [fighter jets] can only be an interim remedy. It is not possible for [Su-35] to exactly meet our operational requirements for now. These are fighter jets," he added.

[04] Turkish Trade Minister: "Turkey loses $3B in trade under no-deal Brexit"

Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (05.09.19-http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-loses-3b-in-trade-under-no-deal-brexit-trade-minister-146306) reports that Turkey's exports to the U.K. are expected to drop by $2.4-3 billion, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said on Sept. 4.

Pekcan said that her country is taking measures to face the situation in order to minimize losses.

Addressing the 10th U.K.-Turkey Business Forum in Istanbul, Pekcan apprehended that in case of a no-deal Brexit, trade volume between the two countries would be affected.

"We expect that the most affected sectors will be automotive by a trade loss worth up to $1.2 billion, textile with $1.3 billion and electronic and white goods by $500 million," Pekcan told the business forum.

The forum was organized by the Turkish British Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TBCCI) in association with Turkey's Investment Office and Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK).

Stressing that the U.K and Turkey are capable of turning difficulties into opportunities, Pekcan said that the economic relations between the two countries, will continue to thrive even after the Brexit.

As of 2018, trade volume between the two countries was $18.5 billion, with exports from Turkey at $11 billion and imports at $7.4 billion.

The Minister said that the U.K is Turkey's one of the most important foreign trade partners, and the second destination for its exports.

(…)Pekcan stressed that bilateral investments between the two countries have exceeded $10 billion. She, however, said the figure is too low, implying that investment sector needs to grow rapidly. "We can cooperate in technology, such as in information technology, software, block chain, big data and artificial intelligence. We aim to raise share of high technology in our exports to over 3%," she added.

"It seems that Brexit under a deal would be okay, but a no-deal Brexit will leave the Turkish businesses in a difficult position," Pekcan said.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(AK/EH)

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