Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 19-09-11

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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] Ankara repeated its red lines as regards the Cyprus problem

[02] More reactions regarding Cavusoglu's visit

[03] Columnists react to Cavusoglu's statements

[04] Kibris Postasi columnist says that the Cyprus settlement cannot be achieved without Turkey's will

[05] Ozersay announced "ministerial council's decision"; Special permission would be given for the restoration of Apostolos Andreas

[06] Erhurman to be the only candidate for the party's leadership at CTP's general congress

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Cavusoglu slams Israel as 'racist, apartheid' state over Netanyahu's election pledges

[02] Kalin: Turkey hasn't given up on F-35 program

[03] Turkey, US to achieve $100 billion trade target with concrete steps: Erdogan

[04] Prosecutor's appeal against Demirtas's release denied, lawyers consider applying for parole

[05] CHP Deputy: "Justice Ministry did not say they are no jailed journalists, it said it could not count them"

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[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Ankara repeated its red lines as regards the Cyprus problem

Turkish Cypriot daily Diaylog (11.09.19) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that Turkey does not exclude any alternative solution in Cyprus adding that these solutions should be evaluated.

He made these statements speaking in Ankara during a common press conference with his counterpart from Montenegro Srdjan Darmanovic.

"Political equality, effective participation and a rotating presidency are red lines for Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots," he said and added: "These should be formulated prior to restarting talks. The negotiations here and now need to be focused on the outcome and with a clear framework. We can no longer afford a new failure."

(CS)

[02] More reactions regarding Cavusoglu's visit

Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog (11.09.19) publishes statements from Turkish Cypriot political parties regarding the illegal visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

The Movement (Sol Hareket) condemned the statements made by Cavusoglu, for the establishment of a "Turkish consulate" in occupied Famagusta. The movement also stated that Turkey tries to sabotage the efforts for launching new negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

On his part, Azer Ozkan, the deputy leader of the Revival Party (YDP- TR Note: The party of the settlers) stated that the party is pleased after the announcement of the "Turkish consulate", adding that this was a step that should have been taken a long time ago. He also said that this development will help the persons who have "double citizenship" (of Turkey and of the "TRNC") in various problems that may face.

Finally, the leader of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Izzet Izcan criticized the involvement of Cavusoglu in the internal affairs of the breakaway regime and stated: "Northern Cyprus is not and will never be a province of Turkey".

(CS)

[03] Columnists react to Cavusoglu's statements

Turkish Cypriot columnists continue to react against the statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu during his recent illegal visit to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

Under the title "The real treason is lying to the community!" in Turkish Cypriot newspaper Haberci (11.09.19), columnist Serhat Incirli reports, inter alia, the following:

"There is absolutely no legal connection between the agreement in which security and guarantees are determined and Mevlut Cavusoglu's statement for 'treason'! Showing terror as pretext and dismissing the elected mayors in Mardin, Diayrbakir and Van and appointing others to their place is treason to democracy.

Deciding in which direction and how the Cyprus problem will advance and stating this openly is an insult to the allegation that the TRNC is a separate state. When Serhat says 'pseudo' you get angry, when Cavusoglu tells you to your face that you are 'pseudo', you say nothing. This is a shame. What you are doing is hypocrisy! […]

If Turkey will protect the Turkish Cypriots or the Turks living in Cyprus because 'the Greek Cypriots might kill them any moment', there is no need to accumulate population and army in the country to do so.

Yes, Turkey may have targets, dreams over the Eastern Mediterranean and the island of Cyprus. However, those who were born and raised on the island of Cyprus have also the right to oppose these targets and dreams. […]

Behold another lie! Go to Turkey and ask any citizen among the 80-million population. People believe that the owner of the territory in Cyprus is Turkey. However, the Turkish Cypriots are not the owners of even 18% of the title deeds in Cyprus. […]

In a boom of lies, some work for Turkey's sovereignty in the Eastern Mediterranean, those who do not work for this are traitors! The Cypriot businessmen are easily led to bankruptcy. And they will continue to bankrupt. This is not a conspiracy theory. […]

The only salvation is the solution. The solution is not at Turkey's loss. However, it will not be for its further benefit. […]

Let us return to the beginning. Security and guarantee! Guarantee of what? […] Turkey is guarantor of the Republic of Cyprus in Cyprus. It is not guarantor of the community. Turkey is guarantor of the British Sovereign Bases as well and not of any community.

Do you know? Treason is lying to the community! The actual treason is to keep quiet in spite of the fact that you see all the realities!

The Cyprus problem must be solved. And Turkey should bargain for its rights, if it has any. If, however, it has not any, there is no meaning in obstructing the way of the solution by saying 'the Greek Cypriots do not accept our equality'. Or you will carry out a referendum and annex the TRNC to yourself! If you have the power, why are you not trying it? […]"

Under the title "The relation of two states cannot be like this" in Turkish Cypriot newspaper K?br?s (11.09.19), the paper's director columnist Ali Baturay reports, inter alia, the following:

"[…] When the president, the prime minister or a minister of a country visit another country, do they use harsh expressions regarding the views or the preferences of a part of the people of that country? That is, do they express negative view for some people in the country they visit? Do they say for some persons of the opposition […] that they are in 'treason' or 'blindness'? Can the visiting minister express the view that some of the people of the country are 'traitors'?

It does not mean that the people of a country who think differently, the opposite voices do not love that country. […] The fact that people do not think like their administrators does not make them terrorist or traitors. […]"

Recalling that Cavusoglu argued that those who thought that the security and guarantees were out of date were traitors, Baturay notes that according to surveys conducted in the past 70% or 60% of the inhabitants in the occupied area of the island were in favor of the guarantees and 30% or 40% thought that the guarantees were out of date. Pointing out that those who believed that guarantees were out of date were not traitors, the columnist writes:

"These people also love their country and want [their country] to improve. […] In this time, it is not correct to call people traitors because of their thoughts and especially if a visiting minister says this, it is not correct at all and it is not in harmony to the rules of courtesy. Of course, this does not happen for the first time, […] but I think that attention should be paid to these things. […]

In the past, about 15 years ago, […] late first president Rauf Denktas had visited Turkey during an election period, toured with MHP officials for the elections and criticized the AKP. The then AKP officials and mainly Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Abdullah Gul had strongly reacted against Denktas. […]

The visiting ministers' meetings with the people in Cyprus are really not pleasant. The visiting ministers listen to the people and therefore to their problems and their unsolved problems. And people see them as hope and their own administrators […] are losing value in a moment. The person who actually has a say speaks there now and the people ask from the visiting minister to solve [the issues] which their own administrators cannot solve. […]

I know, some circles will say again 'what is wrong with that?' […] As long as you do this, referring to a relation of two states becomes meaningless. These relations do not show a relation of two states. This situation is something like the boss and hisapprentice.

You are declaring to the world that Turkey is the one who actually has a say here. As long as you do this, how can you get angry to those who see the TRNC as a subordinate administration of Turkey?"

(I/Ts.)

[04] Kibris Postasi columnist says that the Cyprus settlement cannot be achieved without Turkey's will

Under the title "An election was won without Turkey, but a solution cannot be achieved…", columnist Levent Kutay, writing in Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper Kibris Postasi (11.09.19), comments on the recent meetings of UN Secretary General's Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute in Cyprus as well as, the latest contacts of Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu in the occupied area of Cyprus by concluding that the Cyprus settlement cannot be achieved without Turkey's will in the following commentary:

"(…) It is obvious that Lute's contacts have deeply bothered Turkey… Turkey thinks that there is an effort to exclude them from the equation in the region with the 'monkey business' of the USA on the natural gas… This is what I understand more from Cavusoglu's statements… Before the visit, there was a harsh diplomacy shift behind the scenes… (…)

Turkey does not see a change in the mentality of the Greek Cypriot administration [translator's note: as he refers to the Cyprus government] and opposes to the resumption of the Cyprus talks without a change of the mentality… (…)

Turkey has been disturbed from the arrival of Lute here… It thinks that this is a fait accompli… Cavusoglu will bring up all these in the meeting with the UN Secretary General in New York in the upcoming days…

During the meetings [translator's note: he refers to the meetings that Cavusoglu had recently with the Turkish Cypriot leadership], it was reported that there will not be a long statement; no preparation was done… afterwards, it was obvious that with a surprise decision a joint message was asked to be given, then Akinci and Cavusoglu appeared before the press… The common messages that were given: 'political equality', 'an open-ended process is unacceptable', 'an informal five-party meeting' and 'our proposal of July 13 still stands at the negotiating table'…

Akinci has repeated often that they have covered a ground with Lute; he also stated that 'they want a framework'…

Cavusoglu's statements caught my attention, 'sovereign equality' and 'let's start first and later we look'… (…) Of course, an election can be won by opposing Turkey, but a solution cannot be safeguarded without Turkey".

(DPs)

[05] Ozersay announced "ministerial council's decision"; Special permission would be given for the restoration of Apostolos Andreas

Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (11.09.19) reports that so-called deputy prime minister and "foreign minister" Kudret Ozersay in statements yesterday after the "ministerial council" said that they have decided to give a special permission as part of the tender for the second phase of the restoration of the Apostolos Andreas Monastery.

Ozersay further said that because of the efforts exerted by "government officials", the Turkish Airlines had decided to make a 15% discount to students who travel to the occupied area of Cyprus.

(AK)

[06] Erhurman to be the only candidate for the party's leadership at CTP's general congress

Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (11.09.19) reports that Tufan Erhurman, chairman of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) in the occupied area of Cyprus would be the only candidate for the party's leaders at the forthcoming ordinary party's congress which will take place on October 6.

According to the paper, 131 persons were applied as candidates for the party's central committee that is consist of 75 members.

(AK)

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[B] Turkish Press

[01] Cavusoglu slams Israel as 'racist, apartheid' state over Netanyahu's election pledges

According to Turkish daily newspaper (11.09.19, https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/turkey-slams-israel-as-racist-apartheid-state-over-netanyahus-illegal-election-pledges-3500315) Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday slammed Israel's Prime Minister over his "illegal, unlawful and aggressive" messages in election pledges, saying they are part of "a racist apartheid state".

"The election promise of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, who is giving all kind of illegal, unlawful and aggressive messages before the election, is a racist apartheid state," Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted in English.

Netanyahu on Tuesday said Israel will impose its sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and other settlements in the occupied West Bank if he wins next week's Israeli election.

"Turkey will defend rights and interests of our Palestinian brothers and sisters till the end," Cavusoglu added.

[02] Kalin: Turkey hasn't given up on F-35 program

According to Turkish daily newspaper (10.09.19, https://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2019/09/10/turkey-hasnt-given-up-on-f-35-program-presidential-spox-says), Turkey has not given up on the U.S. F-35s, and it will not be easy to remove Ankara from the fighter jet's production program, Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told reporters following a Cabinet meeting at the presidential complex on Tuesday. (…)

Turkey produces some parts of the F-35 fighter jets and also is a partner in the jet program, and has warned that any effort to remove it from the production chain will be very costly.

Turning to ongoing efforts to establish a safe zone east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, Kal?n said if Turkey encounters any stalling or misconduct by the U.S., Turkey could set up the zone by itself. "We cannot confirm the information coming from the U.S. side that the field is completely safe. We need to confirm it through our own sources," he said, referring to Turkish demands that the zone be rid of the PKK/YPG, a terrorist group the U.S. has sometimes allied itself with. (…)

[03] Turkey, US to achieve $100 billion trade target with concrete steps: Erdogan

According to Turkish daily newspaper Hurriyet Daily News (10.09.19, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-cannot-bear-new-influx-of-migrants-erdogan-146460), Turkey and the United States have been taking concrete steps towards achieving the agreed $100 billon bilateral trade volume, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

"The $20 billion trade volume between Turkey and U.S. is below our true potential. We have agreed to upgrade [our trade volume] to $100 billion with [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump in our last meeting, in Osaka. We have begun to take concrete steps regarding this," Erdogan said on Sept. 10, during a speech at the presidential complex in Ankara, hosting a U.S. delegation headed by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

"I believe the meetings we held with you will contribute to the strengthening of our cooperation," he stated, addressing the U.S. delegation.

"Turkey and the U.S. have a deep-rooted allegiance. This alliance has been tested from time to time and overcame many incidents. With every problem we have tackled, our allegiance became more clinched," Erdogan said, adding that he had a strong dialogue with Trump.

"We are in contact about problems that concern both countries. We have strong relations at every level," he said. (…)

Turkey eyes a free trade agreement with the U.S., the president said. "We have put the free trade agreement talks with my friend Trump, on the agenda."

The direct investment volume from the U.S. to Turkey has reached almost $12 billion in 16 years, yet these figures are "not enough," Erdogan stressed.

"We want more American companies to invest in our country. We are ready to support any American investor who comes to our country," he said. (…)

[04] Prosecutor's appeal against Demirtas's release denied, lawyers consider applying for parole

According to Turkish news portal Turkish Minute (10.09.19, https://www.turkishminute.com/2019/09/10/prosecutors-appeal-against-demirtass-release-denied-lawyers-consider-applying-for-parole/), an Ankara high criminal court has rejected a prosecutor's appeal against last Monday's ruling to release jailed Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas, whose lawyers are now considering applying for parole for a prior conviction that prevented him from leaving prison, the Gazete Duvar news website reported on Tuesday.

Demirtas is expected to meet with his lawyers to discuss the details of the parole application, which is reportedly possible since he has been in jail for more than three years.

Last Monday judges unanimously decided in favour of his release despite a demand by the prosecutor for the continuation of his detention. However, he was not allowed to leave prison due to a sentence of four years, eight months previously handed down to him for disseminating terrorist propaganda.

Demirtas, the former co-chair of the Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), was detained on charges of terrorism in November 2016 along with Figen Yuksekdag, the other co-chair of the party.

On Sept. 18 the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will hear a case against Turkey upon the application of Demirtas's lawyers.

[05] CHP Deputy: "Justice Ministry did not say they are no jailed journalists, it said it could not count them"

Turkish online newspaper T24 (08.09.19, https://t24.com.tr/haber/chp-li-cakirozer-adalet-bakanligi-tutuklu-gazeteci-yok-diyemedi-sayamadik-dedi,838510), with the above title, reports that the Turkish Justice Ministry has failed to answer a question from Utku Cakirozen, Deputy with the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on how many journalists are currently jailed in the country, saying that it is unable to count their names. Turkish Justice Ministry further said that "counting journalists in prison requires special work, research, examination and analysis".

Cak?rozer criticized the Ministry for its response, saying: "It's easy to unlawfully and illegally put journalists on trial. The Justice Ministry could not say, 'There are no jailed journalists,' it said it couldn't count them. Dozens of journalists are in jail while hundreds of them are standing trial."

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(DPs/AM)

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