Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-10-12

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey and the occupation regime signed an "energy agreement"

[02] Albayrak commented on the energy deal with Russia and the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[03] Turkish Cypriot columnist sees crisis after the signature of the "energy agreement" between Turkey and the occupation regime

[04] Construction of Turkish Stream to begin in 2018; the first project of TANAP to be finished in 2018

[05] Erdogan: Turkey will participate in operation to liberate Mosul

[06] CHP lends support to government in spat with Iraq over Bashiqa base

[07] Flights between Iran and the breakaway regime to be launched soon, claims "minister of tourism"

[08] Yildirim and Cavusoglu criticize Clinton over promise to arm Syrian Kurds

[09] Sabah reports that Cyprus has become the new destination for Syrian refugees

[10] More about the "labor and immigration policy"

[11] Cavusoglu for the receiving of the water transferred from Turkey by the "municipalities"

[12] Turkish Cypriot producers of citrus fruits appear optimistic after the lifting of restrictions by Russia

[13] "Good news for the production of tobacco" in the occupied Karpasia region

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey and the occupation regime signed an "energy agreement"

The paper writes that within the framework of the 23rd World Energy Congress held in Istanbul, President Erdogan's son in law and Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Berat Albayrak signed an agreement with the self-styled minister of energy and economy, Sunat Atun providing for transferring electricity from Turkey to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus through undersea cables.

According to information, the agreement between Turkey and the breakaway regime includes articles providing for renewing the electricity infrastructure [in the occupied area of the island], creating safety in electricity supply, establishing an interconnected system, carrying out a common work in the field of renewable energy, mutually harmonizing the "laws" in the field of electricity and producing common projects for discovering oil and natural gas resources and for establishing the necessary infrastructure.

Arguing that Turkey has become one of the strongest countries of the world and the region, Atun claimed: "Turkey constitutes a strategic point in energy. Yesterday's Turkish Stream project could be accepted as one of the biggest global openings in this sense. The TRNC and Turkey had before made in 2011 a cooperation agreement for the Turkish Petroleum to conduct explorations on land and in the seas in the field of energy. Today we have come to the point of making a bigger agreement. I see this as a historic opportunity from the point of view of taking our place in the global equation through our motherland being interconnected with an energy system that exists by our side, at a point on which energy gains bigger importance especially in the Middle East and brings more profits".

Recalling that the water project signed with Turkey had been materialized, Atun argued that this agreement prepared with a 50-year perspective includes a potential much bigger than Turkey and the occupied area of Cyprus. Claiming that with this agreement the transfer of electricity to the south Middle East area could be possible, Atun alleged: "I wish that another 'Turkish Stream' project to secure the transfer of water and electricity as well as gas to other points over the TRNC. I had made a call on south Cyprus saying let them come and let us establish a common transmission center, let us be interconnected with Turkey and let us share this energy with them. I am reiterating this call. We see that every day that passes the solutions which are there for them lose value. The most appropriate thing to do is connecting the gas of the Eastern Mediterranean with a pipeline from Turkey. The gas will be connected from here and this could form another Turkish Stream. This could pave the way for a peace project. It could be a lasting solution".

In his statements, Albayrak described the "agreement" as a development which could cause "important steps" for the region and not only for Cyprus. Albayrak said that they held intensive meetings during the Energy Congress and after these meetings they signed agreements.

The Turkish Cypriot press covers the issue under the following titles:

Kibris: The first step in electricity is completed!

Halkin Sesi: Historic signature in energy

Ortam: It is the turn of 'oil and natural gas'

Havadis: The framework of electricity with cables is completed

Yeni Duzen: Signature for electricity! Blackout for the content?

Kibrisli: Agreement which will change history

(I/Ts.)

[02] Albayrak commented on the energy deal with Russia and the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

Commenting on the Turkish Stream project, Minister Albayrak said that there are two pipeline transports within the framework of the recently signed pipeline project.

While Albayrak in his remarks underlined that the first pipeline is to be implemented for domestic markets by the end of 2018, he said that exporting natural gas via Turkey will be more meaningful after finalizing work on the second pipeline. Albayrak announced that Turkey and Russia have reached a mutual agreement as Turkey will continue to make its appeals during the arbitration procedure. "We are working toward natural gas and electricity prices. There will be good news in the upcoming days [regarding the matter]. We will continue our efforts in price cuts on this and in other relevant areas," he added.

Albayrak also announced that Turkey has signed a number of agreements on energy, natural gas and infrastructure investments.

Commenting on the 23rd World Energy Congress, Albayrak stated that the congress has attracted great interest and has experienced significant attendance. "We have signed important agreements with Cyprus [editor's note: he refers to the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] in the field of all kinds of infrastructure... I will hold an important meeting with the Israeli Energy Minister in Istanbul," he said.

[03] Turkish Cypriot columnist sees crisis after the signature of the "energy agreement" between Turkey and the occupation regime

Ozuslu writes, inter alia, the following:

"While talking of the airports, the roads, the water, the canalization, the rain water, the ports, in the end we gave the electricity as well and got rid of it! With the 'framework agreement' signed yesterday in Istanbul between Turkey and the TRNC, the Turkish Cypriots were connected a little bit more to Turkey and in a manner that has no return. With the interconnection in electricity we are also politically integrated. No one knows the content of the agreement signed by Sunat Atun and Berat Albayrak. Some know it, but those who need to know it do not. And mainly the Turkish Cypriots. [?]"

The columnist says that according to some details of the agreement published by the Turkish official news agency (the Anatolia News Agency) yesterday, the last article provides for "joint projects for discovering oil and natural gas resources". Commenting on this article, Ozuslu reports:

"Please read carefully the last article. It means that Turkey and the TRNC will resume oil and natural gas explorations. It means that Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa vessel will be waiting for instructions for seismic, geological and all exploration and drilling works in the area. This is called crisis! I am very curious, has the view of the president of the republic, who continues referring to a 'solution by the end of the year' at the negotiating table, been taken on this issue? If it has been taken and this agreement was signed in spite of Akinci's negative view, then woe us! If it has been taken and Akinci's view is positive, then woe us!"

(I/Ts.)

[04] Construction of Turkish Stream to begin in 2018; the first project of TANAP to be finished in 2018

The agreement involves the construction of two lines of gas pipelines through the Black Sea, each with a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters.

One line is planned to supply gas directly to the Turkish market, while the other line aims to supply gas to Europe through Turkey.

Miller said the marine section of the pipeline will be owned and built by Gazprom, while the transport infrastructure on the territory of Turkey, as well as the gas receiving terminal will be built by Turkish BOTAS pipeline corporation.

Commenting on a possible competition with Gazprom's another mega project, North Stream 2, Miller said the two pipeline projects had completely different target markets.

The Nord Stream 2 natural gas project, which plans to deliver gas with a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters beneath the Baltic Sea through a 1,200 kilometer (745.6 mile) route to Germany, is currently at the centre of political discussions in the EU.

Meanwhile, TANAP General Manager Saltuk Duzyol, speaking at the World Energy Congress, said on Tuesday that progress for the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project is right on track and that TANAP is a part of a natural gas supply chain.

"We firstly want to complete the first Turkey-Georgia border part of the project, which we will finish in 2018," said Duzyol, adding that the second part from Eskisehir to the Greek border will be finished by the end of 2019.

Duzyol underlined that the project is one of high technology that will benefit other countries including Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. "Other gas supply sources in the region like Iraq and Eastern Mediterranean gas can also fill the TANAP pipeline system in the future," Duzyol added.

[05] Erdogan: Turkey will participate in operation to liberate Mosul

Pointing out Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's objection to Turkey participating in the counter-terror operation, Erdogan said: "Iraq Prime Minister, know your own place, your clamouring is not important".

Erdogan said that Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will not take direction from the Iraqi Prime Minister, saying that Turkish army will do what is necessary in Mosul.

The operation on Mosul will be conducted by nearly 15,000 Iraqi security and local forces; it will also be supported by the U.S. and Kurdish peshmerga forces for logistical purposes. Meanwhile, the U.S.-led coalition forces are also expected to support the operation from the air.

[06] CHP lends support to government in spat with Iraq over Bashiqa base

The main opposition leader lends rare support to the government in a row with Baghdad, which has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Turkish military from the camp.

"Of course the [Turkish] soldiers will leave as soon as the domestic political turbulence ends. But we want terror to be eliminated and ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] to be cleared from Mosul, Kirkuk and other Iraqi provinces. We have a duty which we took according to your desire. Let us fulfil our duty. We are determined to be a friend," he said. "We have always defended Iraq's territorial integrity and we will continue to do so."

Although the CHP head backed government's line with regard to the Turkish troops' presence at the camp, he urged the government to use more careful language and not pursue a sectarian foreign policy regarding Syria and Iraq, especially on the eve of the upcoming Mosul operation.

[07] Flights between Iran and the breakaway regime to be launched soon, claims "minister of tourism"

Referring to the promotion of "TRNC tourism" that took place in Iran the previous days, he stated that around 200 tourist agents participated in the events organized and noted that this was the biggest participation in such an event organized ever by the breakaway regime.

The events took place with the support of the Turkish Airlines, the paper notes.

He went on and added that the charter flights between the breakaway regime and the Iranian cities of Tehran and Tebriz will be conducted with the "touch down" system and that in order for these flights to be sustainable, they will be conducted under the flight route of "Iran-Konya-TRNC", without plane-chaining.

Ataoglu also stated that during his contacts in Ordu, Turkey and because of the great assistance of the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Nabi Avci, charter flights from this city to the breakaway regime will be conducted three times per week. He also said that flights from Konya to the breakaway regime will also be launched and will be conducted three times per week as well and added that tourist agents from Konya will visit the occupied area of Cyprus next week.

In addition, Kibris (12.10.16) writes that Ataoglu also stated that events for promoting "TRNC tourism" will also take place in England, Germany, Turkey and Azerbaijan, with the support of the Turkish Ministry of Tourism. The promotion in England and in Istanbul will start taking place in November.

(CS)

[08] Yildirim and Cavusoglu criticize Clinton over promise to arm Syrian Kurds

"Clinton has said she would support Kurds in the region, terrorist organizations, with arms if she is elected. What does that mean? Is the U.S. not our ally? What does it mean to support them with arms?" Y?ld?r?m told his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) weekly parliamentary group meeting on Oct. 11.

"They supposedly fight against Daesh [an Arabic anonym of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - ISIL] by arming the [People's Protection Units] YPG, which is an offshoot of the [outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party] PKK," the Prime Minister added.

Y?ld?r?m stressed that fighting against one terrorist organization by using another terrorist organization was "unacceptable".

On Oct. 9, U.S. presidential candidate Clinton said for the second time that she would consider arming the Kurds, in order to hasten the ISIL fall in Raqqa."I would also consider arming the Kurds. The Kurds have been our best partners in Syria, as well as Iraq," she said during a presidential debate.

Turkey is ready to do "whatever is necessary on the east of Euphrates [River] if terrorist acts continue there too", he vowed. Y?ld?r?m pledged to secure "every span" of the 911-kilometer-long border with Syria.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned that the U.S. would become a "terror-supporting country" if it cooperated with terrorists.

Ankara considers the YPG as the Syrian affiliate of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The YPG, a part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance, has been a partner in the U.S.-led campaign against ISIL in Syria. Turkey insists the YPG forces should retreat back to the east of Euphrates River

[09] Sabah reports that Cyprus has become the new destination for Syrian refugees

"The Greek Cypriot half of the divided island of Cyprus (editor's note: the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus) is the only European Union member country in the eastern Mediterranean, and is now becoming a favourite destination for Syrian migrants in pursuit of a better life in Europe.

The Turkish Coast Guard intercepted 100 illegal Syrian migrants off the coast of Mersin, the island's closest Turkish province, late on Monday. This group was the latest to head to the island by boat after some 114 migrants were stopped off the Mersin coast on Sept. 26. Security sources said the migrants' final destination was Southern Cyprus, the name Turkey officially uses in reference to the Republic of Cyprus, which goes unrecognized by Ankara due to a dispute between Turkish and Greek Cypriots over the island's status.

The migrants caught were departing from the Erdemli district, and included 60 children all huddled in a small boat, meant for a maximum of 20 persons, when they were intercepted some 5 miles from the coast. Authorities said the fishing boat was under surveillance for months due to an intelligence report that it might be used for human smuggling. The migrants were brought to a police station after a medical examination at a hospital before they were sent to an accommodation centre used by the local immigration agency. Authorities detained the unidentified owner of the boat following the incident.

Unlike the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, which are the closest gateway to Europe for migrants setting off from Turkey's western shores aboard dinghies to islands located only a few miles away, Southern Cyprus is hundreds of km away from the nearest mainland Turkish coast. Still, being a member of European Union makes it favourable among Syrian migrants, especially those traveling to the Mediterranean shores of Turkey from southern cities close to its border with Syria.

Figures show that 27,028 refugees were intercepted by Turkey so far this year."

[10] More about the "labour and immigration policy"

According to the paper, the "state" has received 5 million Turkish Lira so far due to the 834 Turkish Lira that every applicator had to deposit in order to be examined if he/she could benefited by the "law".

Speaking to Diyalog TV on the issue, self-styled minister of labor and social security, Hamza Ersan Saner stated that the implementation of the "law" was interrupted after the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) applied against it at the "constitutional court". He however noticed that the "government" is very determined over this issue and will send the "law" again to the "assembly" aiming for the law to be re-acted again.

(CS)

[11] Cavusoglu for the receiving of the water transferred from Turkey by the "municipalities"

Cavusoglu, who was speaking during a meeting, also stated that they have so far completed the construction of 53 kilometers and their aim is all the "country" to be provided with water in 2017.

Referring to the Panagra dam, he stated that it has a capacity of 26,500 cubic meters of water and was designed in order to meet the needs of all the 28 "municipalities" of the breakaway regime. He also noted that all the 28 "municipalities" have signed the subscription agreement for receiving water and that until now only 22 of the "municipalities" started to receive water.

(CS)

[12] Turkish Cypriot producers of citrus fruits appear optimistic after the lifting of restrictions by Russia

According to the paper, in 2016 the "citrus fruit sector" in the occupied area of Cyprus made losses of 35 million TL, since it was affected by the loss of the Russian market. However, after the lifting of restrictions by, Russia will import oranges, mandarins, apricots, peaches and nectarines from Turkey.

Commenting on this development, the "chairman" of the "Turkish Cypriot union of citrus fruit exporters" Gokhan Sarac, stated that after the lifting of the Russian restrictions, the "sector" will be revived and added that their predictions about the coming season is that they will make exports reaching to 70 million T.L. He also said that their expectation is that they will export to Russia this season around 90,000 tons of citrus fruits.

Pointing out to the retreating of the "citrus fruit sector" during the last 5 years, Sarac expressed the view that after the re-opening of the Russian market, the transferring of water from Turkey to the "TRNC" and the signing of the "agreement" regarding the transferring of electricity from Turkey, the sector will be revived.

Sarac reminded also that besides Turkey, they export citrus fruits to North Iraq, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, the UK and the Netherlands.

[13] "Good news for the production of tobacco" in the occupied Karpasia region

The paper writes that this development has bolstered the moral in the "country" and is very pleasant.

Commenting on the issue, the "secretary" of the occupied Karpasia "Cooperative Tobacco sales company LTD" Ali Yakus stated that it is the first time after 12 years that 22 families have received permission from the "ministry" to plant tobacco, since their stock has been run out of consumption.

Stating that while they were expecting to produce approximately 7-8 tons of tobacco, they achieved to produce only 4 tons due to the draught. He also said that they sold the whole production of tobacco 13TL per kg and added that the orders from European countries continue.

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