Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 19-11-28

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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] Tatar said that Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots had equal rights over the island's resources

[02] Tatar to visit London after arrest warrant against him withdrawn

[03] "Cabinet" bans strike after life paralysed due to strike in electricity

[04] Arikli threatens Ozkirac

[05] Denktas: "Nothing concrete and valuable came up from the trilateral Berlin summit"

[06] More reaction statements on the trilateral Berlin summit

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Kalin: Calls all Turkey's allies to take threats against Turkey's national security seriously

[02] Cavusoglu: Turkey needs more air defense systems

[03] Turkey blocks NATO military plans to retaliate against YPG row

[04] Istanbul to host Heart of Asia meeting in December

[05] Turkey, Libya signs 2 memoranda of understanding

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[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Tatar said that Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots had equal rights over the island's resources

Illegal Bayrak (28.11.19 https://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=pm-tatar-addresses-10th-bosphorus-summit) reports that "prime minister" Ersin Tatar has claimed that "the natural resources around the Cyprus need to be distributed equitably between the two peoples on the island"

Tatar was speaking at the opening session of the 10th Bosphorus Summit in Istanbul.

Claiming out the wealthier and more powerful countries were not fair and were acting selfishly, he said that the world's natural resources needed to be shared fairly.

"If we want peace, stability and sustainability we should be more understanding and more caring," he said.

Touching upon the Cyprus problem, Tatar said that "according to international agreements, the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots had equal rights over the island's resources".

"These resources of Cyprus should be distributed equitably between the two peoples on the island," he said, claiming that "The Greek Cypriots and their partners had laid claim on the natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean".

He claimed that "the Greek Cypriot side had rejected the Turkish side's proposal to establish a joint committee to co-manage the natural gas discovered in the region".

"As a result Turkey and we as the Turkish Cypriot side are now exercising our own rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are telling the international community that we as Turkish Cypriots have much a right as Greek Cypriots on the natural resources in the area," he said.

Tatar said that "the international community needed to acknowledge, recognize and respect these facts so as to be able to achieve peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean".

"Otherwise failure to do so might lead to instability, he said.

[02] Tatar to visit London after arrest warrant against him withdrawn

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Havadis (28.11.19) reports that Ersin Tatar, self-styled prime minster of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has sent a letter to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in London through Mr Bark-Jones, Mark & Co Law Office, asking whether an arrest warrant against him existed.

The paper publishes a copy of the letter dated 25 November 2019, under the title "SFO Investigation: Mr Ersin Tatar". On behalf of the SFO the letter is signed by Senior Lawyer Rosemary Donabella, who noted that "it has been decided not to institute criminal proceedings on the grounds it is now not in the public interest to prosecute Mr Tatar". She added the following:

"Accordingly, the Director of the SFO, exercising discretion granted to her by the Criminal Justice Act 1987, has taken the decision to discontinue this matter and not to instigate criminal proceedings against your client.

The warrant for Mr Tatar's arrest dated 13 August 2015 has been withdrawn by the Magistrate's Court".

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Star Kibris (28.11.19) reports that after holding meetings in Strasbourg, Tatar is visiting London today. In the British capital, Tatar will hold various contacts and give a press conference tomorrow on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem.

(I/Ts.)

[03] "Cabinet" bans strike after life paralysed due to strike in electricity

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kibris (28.11.19) reports that EL-SEN, the trade union of the employees in the "electricity authority" (KIB-TEK), went on strike the night before yesterday protesting to the fact that the "government" has not invited tenders to purchase power units. Because of the strike electricity was cut for hours in the entire occupied area and life was paralysed. The employees did not fix any breakdown except for the ones in hospitals and schools.

Meanwhile, the "council of ministers" convened extraordinarily and decided to ban the strike for 60 days. In its statement it said that it would take steps for investments in the field of electricity during the forthcoming days.

Kubilay Ozkirac, EL-Sen's chairman, said that they would not obey the "government's" decision, but later he announced the end of the strike and the continuation of other actions.

Erhan Arikli, chairman of the settlers' Revival Party (YDP), said that the only way to ensure the supply and diversity in the field of electricity was to transfer electricity from Turkey with cables and to use solar energy. In a written statement, Arikli called on the "government" not to "surrender to the barons of the trade unions and the lobby of the generators" and act without delay on the issue of transferring electricity from Turkey.

Dogus Derya, "deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), expressed support to the strike of EL-SEN, noting that the strike was materialized to save KIB-TEK and to prevent giving it away in the name of privatization.

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Halkin Sesi (28.11.19) reports that Cemal Ozyigit, chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), has said that the "government" was responsible for the strike in the field of electricity. In a post on his social media account, he accused self-styled economy and energy minister Hasan Tacoy of not keeping his promise to invite tenders within 45 days and materialize the decision taken during the previous "government" regarding the purchase of four power units. He recalled that Tacoy had signed an agreement with EL-SEN on 4 September 2019, providing that he would invite tenders within 45 days.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Arikli threatens Ozkirac

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Afrika (28.11.19) reports that Erhan Arikli, chairman of the settlers' Revival Party (YDP), has threatened Kubilay Ozkirac, chairman of EL-SEN, the trade union of the employees in the "electricity authority" (KIB-TEK).

According to the paper, after a press conference organized by EL-SEN yesterday, Arikli called Ozkirac and told him "we will settle accounts with you". He also used very offensive and vulgar words against Ozkirac.

The paper recalls that in his column in the press a few years ago, Arikli had used threats against those who wanted a solution in Cyprus. He had, inter alia, said that he wanted to put out his cigarette on them.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Denktas: "Nothing concrete and valuable came up from the trilateral Berlin summit"

Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog (28.11.19) reports that Serdar Denktas, so-called deputy with the Democratic Party (DP) and former chairman of the party, in statements to his social media account about the trilateral summit in Berlin, alleged that the statements made after the meeting in Berlin do not add something new, concrete and valuable on the Cyprus problem, supporting that they hear the same things for years now.

Denktas accused further the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades for following delaying tactics on the negotiation talks especially after the February 2014 Joint Declaration agreement. He went on to claim that the main purpose of Anastasiades was to isolate and weaken Turkey on the issue of the natural gas.

(AK)

[06] More reaction statements on the trilateral Berlin summit

Turkish Cypriot daily Haberator (28.11.19) reports that Albay Durduran, member of the New Cyprus Party (YKP), has stated that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci was successful at the trilateral Berlin summit and added that he achieved to obtain the support of the UN's Secretary General and the Security Council on the issue of the solution.

Issuing a written statement yesterday, Durduran pointed out to the importance of the Cyprus problem, which is a problem, as he said, that would lead to many wars and underlined further that its importance has been proved also by the statements of support made after the summit by France and Slovakia.

Meanwhile, the Left Movement in the occupied area of Cyprus, in a separate written statement read by Abdullah Korkmazhan, points out to the fact that the trilateral summit in Berlin has opened the path for a new perspective towards the solution.

Korkmazhan further said that the statements made by the UN Secretary General after the summit have clarified that the basis of the solution of the Cyprus problem is federation and it also has drew up the path to be followed. Korkmazhan further added that Guterres, together with the two leaders undertook a series of important responsibilities. He added that the existing deadlock was lifted and that a news perspective of progress on the Cyprus problem was created.

Moreover, Mehmet Davulcu, general secretary of the Communal Liberation Party- New Forces (TKP-YG) in a written statement, evaluating the trilateral summit, said that it has opened again the path for a federal solution on the Cyprus problem based on the UN's parameters, while, at the same time it has lift all other hollow alternatives which were set forward recently by the National Unity Party (UBP), the People's Party (HP) and the Revival Party (YDP).

Davulcu points out to the need for all Cypriots to act and work together for reaching a solution on the Cyprus problem next Spring.

(AK)

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[B] Turkish Press

[01] Kalin: Calls all Turkey's allies to take threats against Turkey's national security seriously

Turkish daily Yeni Safak (28.11.19 https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/turkey-wants-to-join-the-eu-turkish-spokesperson-3506057) reports that Turkey is a strong member of NATO with its second largest army and wants to join the EU as a full member, Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said.

Allies must take threats against Turkey's national security seriously and work in partnership to overcome them, he said in a program in Berlin co-organized by the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum and the Korber Foundation.

Kalin also stressed Turkey's determination "in fighting terrorism".

"We do not want to see any terrorist elements taking over a piece of land, ruling over people in Syria, whether by PKK[YPG] or ISIS or al-Qaida or any other groups," he said.

[02] Cavusoglu: Turkey needs more air defense systems

Turkish daily Yeni Safak (28.11.19 https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-needs-more-air-defense-systems-foreign-minister-3506027) reports that Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu said that in addition to Russian S-400 air-defense system, Turkey needs more systems.

The S-400 battery alone is not enough, Turkey needs new and additional air defense systems, Cavusoglu told the joint news conference with his Somali counterpart Ahmed Issa Awad in the Turkish capital.

He also reiterated President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's earlier remarks that Turkey can purchase Patriot missiles, if the U.S. guarantees it.

Responding to the criticism on Ankara's purchase of the S-400 air-defense system, Cavusoglu said a product is not purchased for storage purpose, and that Turkey needs the system.

Saying that S-400 issue was mentioned at President Erdogan's visit to Washington, he stressed that Turkey and the U.S. dissent and this is one of the issues that negatively affects Turkey-US relations.

[03] Turkey blocks NATO military plans to retaliate against YPG row

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (28.11.19 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-blocks-nato-military-plans-to-retaliate-against-ypg-row-149207) reports that Turkey has refused a NATO defense plan for the Baltics and Poland after some alliance members, including the United States, blocked another defense document at which the YPG was mentioned as a threat to Turkey, diplomatic sources told Hürriyet Daily News.

"The North Atlantic Council (NAC), the principal political decision-making body within NATO, prepared a document on possible threats posed to the south of the Alliance at a meeting of the body in Ankara. The document noted the YPG as a security threat to Turkey. However, the release of the defense document was rejected by some NATO members including the U.S. If the plan was released, the YPG would be worded as a security threat for the first time in NATO documents", writes the paper.

Turkey, in retaliation, refused the release of a NATO defense plan for the Baltics and Poland until the alliance paves the way for the prior document, a senior Turkish diplomat told Hürriyet Daily News on condition of anonymity.

"If the plan involving Turkey was not released, we will not allow any others. Those who asked us at the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting for publishing the plan for the Baltics should show the same sensitivity for this document, too," the source said.

Meanwhile, the NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is trying to solve the problem before the alliance's summit in December.

Stoltenberg is making efforts for a text to be accepted by all parties, the diplomatic source said. "The secretary-general is trying to find a common language. We say that we are ready for proposals," the diplomat said, elaborating on the defense plan on Turkey's security concerns.

If the document mentions the YPG, Washington would have to carry legal responsibility to fight against the group, therefore the U.S. objected to the plan, according to the source.

The dispute, before NATO holds its 70th-anniversary summit in London next week, is a sign of divisions between Ankara and Washington over Turkey's offensive in northern Syria against the YPG. NATO envoys are seeking formal approval by all 29 member states for the military plan to defend Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in the event of a Russian attack.

[04] Istanbul to host Heart of Asia meeting in December

Ankara Anatolia news agency (28.11.19 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/istanbul-to-host-heart-of-asia-meeting-in-december/1657510) reports that the ministerial conference of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process will be held in the Turkish metropolis Istanbul on Dec. 9, Turkey's ambassador to the UN announced Wednesday.

Speaking at a UN conference on Afghanistan in Geneva, Feridun Sinirlioglu said that the meeting will promote efforts for peace and boost post-conflict initiatives.

Sinirlioglu added that the Istanbul Process provides an important opportunity for strengthening cooperation on political dialogue and consultation.

Reiterating Turkey's support to end the crisis in Afghanistan, he said regional cooperation plays an important role.

The first ministerial conference of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process was in 2011.

[05] Turkey, Libya signs 2 memoranda of understanding

Ankara Anatolia news agency (28.11.19 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/turkey-libya-signs-2-memoranda-of-understanding/1657615) reports that Turkey and Libya have signed two memoranda of understandings, the Turkish Presidential Communications Directorate announced Wednesday.

"The Security and Military Cooperation" and "Restriction of Marine Jurisdictions" agreements were signed when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a closed meeting with Fayez al-Sarraj, chairman of Presidential Council of Libya, at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul.

The Directorate said the agreement is an effort to strengthen relations and cooperation between the two countries.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS/ AM)

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