Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-06-21

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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] Akinci departs for Ankara tomorrow

[02] Erdogan discussed with Ertugruloglu the Cyprus talks

[03] Yildirim: "The solution is a unitary"

[04] Turkes in the occupied area of Cyprus to discuss the Cyprus talks

[05] Ak?nc? met with the US Ambassador and the British High Commissioner

[06] "The EU and the US engagement needed for key Cyprus conference"

[07] Afrika reports that "foreign minister granted a diplomatic passport" to a businessman involved to a major construction scandal

[08] Akansoy reveals how Turkey rules over the occupied area of Cyprus

[09] Erdogan urges global community to fulfill duties on the Syrian refugees

[10] Zeybekci: "Turkey can expand EU's economic growth"

[11] Fitch revises up Turkey's GDP forecast to 4.7% based on strong first quarter growth

[12] A Turkish woman was attacked for 'wearing miniskirt during Ramadan' in Istanbul

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci departs for Ankara tomorrow

During his visit, Akinci will be accompanied by the Turkish Cypriot negotiating team.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Erdogan discussed with Ertugruloglu the Cyprus talks

The paper reports that during this meeting, which was described as a "surprise" in the political circles in the occupied area of Cyprus, the decision of the "TRNC government" regarding the continuation of Turkey's active and effective guarantees as well as its unilateral right of intervention were mainly discussed.

According to information that the paper obtained, Erdogan also shares the same concerns that Ertugruloglu presented to him regarding the issue of the continuation of Turkey's active and effective guarantees and its unilateral right of intervention.

Ertugruloglu, who returned to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus last night, did not make any statement regarding his meeting in Ankara.

Replying to a question of the paper's reporter if the meeting satisfied him, Ertugruloglu said that he was satisfied remarkably.

According to a press release by the "ministry of foreign affairs", the meeting with Erdogan lasted an hour and the Cyprus talks were discussed.

(DPs)

[03] Yildirim: "The solution is a unitary"

"To be honest, there is a doubt that the necessary conditions will be created for the participation of the Prime Ministers of countries like Greece and Turkey as guarantor countries at the 28 June meeting that will be held in Switzerland. There is a question on this issue, for us and for them as well. The Cypriot leaders must agree on some issues. We do not adopt the approach that security and guarantees must be discussed first and the other issues must be discussed separately. Solution is a unitary. These issues must be discussed as a package and the issues of governing, territory, population, the relation of the EU and the issue of freedom, including guarantees must be solved", he said, adding that there are doubts that all these can be done in such a short period of time.

"But they will try", he said, adding that he will continue his dialogue with Tsipras and they will exert the necessary efforts to contribute to a solution.

Asked if there will be a "red line" between Athens and Ankara, Yildirim said that a similar mechanism will be created and that the two Prime Ministers see positively the issue of creating a political will and intervention at a higher level in case developments occur.

(CS)

[04] Turkes in the occupied area of Cyprus to discuss the Cyprus talks

Turkes, who will stay in the occupied area for three days, will carry out contacts with "officials" from the "government" and the "state" regarding the Cyprus problem and current issues.

It is reported that tomorrow afternoon, Turkes will meet with the leaders and the representatives of the Turkish Cypriot political parties represented in the "assembly" of the breakaway regime at the Turkish "embassy".

On the same issue, illegal Bayrak television (online, 21.06.17) reported that Turkes, who carries out a series of contacts ahead of the Crans Montana summit, first met with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci this morning.

Present at the meeting was Akinci's undersecretary Gurdal Hudaoglu, Akinci's spokesman Baris Burcu, Akinci's private secretary Cenk Gurcag, Akinci's special adviser for diplomacy and the EU Erhan Ercin and Akinci's special adviser for political affairs and history Meltem Onurkan Samani.

The Turkish "ambassador" to the occupied part of Lefkosia Derya Kanbay, "senior undersecretary" at the illegal Turkish embassy Mehmet Apak, the Turkish Prime Ministry's Chief Undersecretary in Charge of Cyprus Affairs Tugrul Biltkin as well as other "high ranking officials" took part in the meeting.

He later met with the "assembly speaker" Sibel Siber.

In the afternoon he will also meet with self-styled prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun.

The Turkish Deputy Prime Minister will be leaving the occupied area of Cyprus on Friday the 23rd of June.

(DPs)

[05] Ak?nc? met with the US Ambassador and the British High Commissioner

Akinci's "special adviser on political affairs and history", Dr. Meltem Onurkan Samani was also present at the meeting.

No statement was made before or after the meeting held at the so-called presidential palace.

Meanwhile, according to illegal Bayrak television (21.06.17) Akinci met also this morning with the British High Commissioner, Mathew Kidd. So-called presidential spokesman Baris Burcu and Akinci's "special advisor" Erhan Ercin, were also present at the meeting.

[06] "The EU and the US engagement needed for key Cyprus conference"

"The Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders, Mustafa Ak?nc? and Nicos Anastasiades, will meet in Crans-Montana, Switzerland on June 28. The meeting comes after strong pressure from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Gueterres to hold another conference in order to bring the two parties closer to a breakthrough with the participation of the three guarantor countries: Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom.

After the conference in Mont Pelerin in February, the upcoming five-way conference in Crans-Montana, another secluded spot in a mountainous part of Switzerland, will constitute the second venue for reunification negotiations that were launched in early 2014.

One thing is pretty sure: There is unlikely to be a third conference if the negotiating parties fail to provide a meaningful improvement in Crans-Montana. This message has been well diffused by the senior Turkish leadership following Gueterres' announcement of the upcoming conference. Officials emphasize that Crans-Montana will be the final opportunity for a negotiated settlement on the basis of the political equality of Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

Although both sides have come to a certain point for a blueprint on six chapters on the agreement of the projected new Cypriot state, there are still areas of disagreement on territory, power-sharing and security-guarantees.

Although the difference on the proposed maps of both sides is tiny, the Turkish side believes it will be difficult for the Turkish and the Greek Cypriots to reach a compromise on the issue of territories. However, the real challenge will be on the securities-guarantees chapter. Greek Cypriot President Anastasiades previously imposed pre-conditions on this issue before deciding to join the second conference in Switzerland. The U.N.'s Gueterres could avoid the impasse by suggesting a document that will guide the discussions on this very issue.

As a result of my conversations with diplomats familiar with the negotiations, the document being prepared by the U.N. is planned to shape a very sophisticated framework to provide an efficient and contemporary package of guarantees to let both communities feel secure. This framework will certainly be very different from 1960-dated Treaty of Guarantees, but its modalities will still be negotiated by the two parties - although Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom are currently the guarantor countries.

It is true that the two sides have completely different approaches on this key matter, with the Turkish side insisting that any "zero troops, zero guarantees" position will not be approved and the Greek Cypriots drawing attention to the fact that no foreign troops can be allowed on the territories of an EU member country.

It's therefore going to be very important that the document to be submitted by the U.N. to both parties is creative enough to establish a foundation for both parties to continue negotiations in the Crans-Montana conference. If it is not, it should not come as a surprise if one of the parties makes clear that it will not attend the conference because the document ignores its security concerns.

In addition to difficulties on the technical negotiations between the two parties, there are unfortunately three challenges driven by international dynamics that are reducing expectations of an agreement.

First is the lack of incentive on the Greek Cyprus side, one of the most important differences from the 2004 Annan plan process. Already a member of the EU, Greek Cyprus will not approve any pressure from Brussels or any other member countries for a solution. It is also hard to argue that the EU would have the appetite for this at a time when it has to deal with the Brexit negotiations.

The second problem is Turkey's strained relationship with the EU and a number of prominent countries. It would be hard to anticipate a genuine step from Greek Cyprus under these circumstances.

The third problem is the lack of attention or contribution to the ongoing efforts from the United States under the administration of President Donald Trump.

Under these circumstances, there is little room for raising expectations for the Crans-Montana conference.

Additional input from the EU and the U.S. will surely be necessary to change the course for a better outcome in what many describe as a 'last chance'".

[07] Afrika reports that "foreign minister granted a diplomatic passport" to a businessman involved to a major construction scandal

(TR. Note: "Bulut constructions" (and its owner Temel Bulut, who was also the editor of Haberdar newspaper) was a firm that was involved in a major construction scandal, deceiving hundreds of people. Temel Bulut is wanted by Interpol.)

The paper wonders who has "granted" the "red passport" and cites information that Citim, who escaped from the breakaway regime is very close to the "foreign minister" Tahsin Ertugruloglu. It also writes that it is unknown if the other members of the "council of ministries" are aware about this development.

(CS)

[08] Akansoy reveals how Turkey rules over the occupied area of Cyprus

Akansoy said that their "government" had been punished because of the stance they exhibited on the issue of the water carried from Turkey, that many "municipalities" which did not support the CTP were influenced by this situation and that many project could not be materialized. He added:

"I have not said this before. I am saying it for the first time on this program but the materialization of many projects is in Turkey's hand and this will not change without a solution on the island".

Akansoy said that he had been told that Turkey was annoyed by CTP's stance on the water issue and therefore the projects could not be materialized. He noted that this dialogue took place "at the highest level".

Akansoy noted that many important projects in the occupied Goneyli so-called municipality had been prevented and that the reason for this was the fact that the "municipal council" had not approved the construction of a mosque at the Goneyli square.

According to Akansoy, using resources for carrying out projects is not very easy in the occupied area, as this depends on Turkey and the situation will not change without a solution [to the Cyprus problem].

(I/Ts.)

[09] Erdogan urges global community to fulfill duties on the Syrian refugees

"We call on the international community to fulfill its obligations regarding this matter," Erdogan said.

Noting that Turkey has never hesitated to open its doors to people fleeing persecution, Erdogan said that the country hosts around three million refugees and does not differentiate between them.

Erdogan added that that many developed countries claiming to be the defendants of fundamental rights and humanitarian values have failed by closing their doors to the oppressed. "Turkey, which has become the symbol of the open door policy, will continue to provide assistance for those fleeing conflict, without discriminating based on religion, language or ethnicity," Erdogan said.

He also highlighted that Turkey will strive to enhance the living standards of Syrian refugees living in the country through economic and educational initiatives.

Turkey has spent around $25 billion helping and sheltering refugees during this time. Since the Turkey-led Operation Euphrates Shield to rid Syria's northern border area of terrorists, the Turkish government and many Turkish NGOs, including the Red Crescent, have been aiding refugees. This initiative has not only been taking place in Turkey, but tent cities have been set up in crisis-hit border areas inside Syria, along with distributions of food and other supplies. The Turkish Red Crescent's humanitarian aid has exceeded TL 2 billion (around $560 million) since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, according to the organization.

[10] Zeybekci: "Turkey can expand EU's economic growth"

"An updated Turkey-EU Customs Union agreement is most important for us," Zeybekci said at a fast-breaking (iftar) dinner held by the Foreign Economic Relations Board.

"Our export trade with the EU is 49%, import 40% and 44% of foreign trade in total," he said.

Zeybekci stated further Turkey has free-trade agreements with active foreign trade policies and Ankara would terminate its agreements with five of the 23 countries this year.

"Our goal is to take formal action for the Customs Union update by the end of this year. Both sides are working on extending the deal's scope. The EU Commission voted for authority from the EU Council, the process is ongoing in the European Parliament. It will be a win-win situation for both sides," Zeybekci said.

Zeybekci will meet his counterpart in Brussels on June 23 to address the situation.

He also stressed that a free-trade agreement with the United Kingdom would commence on the same day Brexit starts. Because Turkey has been the first country the U.K. has started negotiations with, he said the two countries would meet "on common ground."

[11] Fitch revises up Turkey's GDP forecast to 4.7% based on strong first quarter growth

The agency now estimates the Turkish economy will expand 4.7% in 2017 and 4.1% each for next year and 2019.

In its latest Global Economic Outlook (GEO), which was released on June 19, Fitch said the latest data, combined with the robust 2011-2015 performance, suggest that Turkey's growth is persistently higher than previously assumed.

"Momentum in the first quarter of 2017 was supported by government incentives aimed at reviving economic activity in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt in July 2016", Fitch stated.

"A potentially smoother political environment, with the referendum complete and the next elections not due until November 2019, should support a strengthening of investment and consumption through mid-2019," Fitch noted.

"Inflation slowed in May (when it was 11.7%) for the first time this year, due to hikes in interest rates and resulting currency stability", it also added.

Fitch forecasted 9.5% inflation in 2017, 7.5% in 2018 and 7.3% in 2019.

"The recovery in global growth is strengthening and is expected to pick up to 2.9% this year and peak at 3.1% in 2018, the highest rate since 2010", according to Fitch.

(…)

[12] A Turkish woman was attacked for 'wearing miniskirt during Ramadan' in Istanbul

Following the incident, Saglam filed a complaint against her assailant, upon which he was detained three days later on June 17. However, after giving his testimony at the police station Ercan K. was released pending investigation on the same day.

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