Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-08-03

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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] Eide paid a farewell visit to Akinci

[02] Turkish Cypriot columnist writes that a step regarding the opening of Varosha will be certainly taken

[03] The Turkish "embassy" in the occupied area of Cyprus has stopped to "certify" the international contracts of "TRNC companies" with third countries

[04] Akinci met with Lord Balfe

[05] Turkey reshuffles land, air and navy commanders at key military meeting

[06] Seventy –two percent of Turkish citizens see the US as security threat

[07] Turkey's main opposition CHP to invite all fractions of society to 'justice congress'

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eide paid a farewell visit to Akinci

The meeting took place at the so-called presidential palace. During the meeting Ak?nc? gave to Eide an honorary present.

Meanwhile, Ak?nc? will also be giving a reception in honor of Eide at the so-called presidential palace on Friday evening at 7:30.

(AK)

[02] Turkish Cypriot columnist writes that a step regarding the opening of Varosha will be certainly taken

The columnist went on and added that the issue of the opening of Varosha came into the agenda during the visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu adding that apart of some statements made by Serdar Denktas on the issue no one was informed whether a decision was taken. Toros, wrote Ozulsu, confirmed that studies were made towards the opening of Varosha and that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami referred to the issue. "It is not known when and how Varosha will be opened, under which status and how this will affect the Cyprus problem. But what is certain is that a step will be taken regarding Varosha.", the columnist wrote.

He went on and wrote that the negotiations for a "complete solution" have collapsed and that like Alvaro De Soto did in 2004, Eide is now leaving Cyprus with his moral broken. In this period that everything is "hanging", wrote Ozuslu, the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey are taking new steps in order both to rise the spirit and to give a positive message to the world. This message, which started with the announcement for the return of the Maronites, consists of the following headlines, according to the columnist:

"The safeguarding of the Maronites' return to their villages.

The (somehow) opening of Varosha.

Strengthening the "compensation committee" and encouraging the increase of applications by the Greek Cypriots.

Opening of new barricades, mainly of those of Lefka and Deryneia.

Actions so that trade vehicles which have the "TRNC" plates to be able to cross to the "south".

Efforts so that the water transferred from Turkey to be able to transferred to the "south" as well.

"Toros referred to these proposals as suggestions made by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce but we understand that these are included in Akinci's agenda. The messages given after Akinci's meeting with the "compensation committee is a proof that there is mobility for this package", Ozulsu argued.

(CS)

[03] The Turkish "embassy" in the occupied area of Cyprus has stopped to "certify" the international contracts of "TRNC companies" with third countries

The paper explains that the procedure for the "TRNC companies" coming from a non-recognised country to make their "international cooperation" takes place with the "certification" of the "TRNC certifying officer", the "interior ministry" and finally of the Turkish "embassy" in the occupied part of Nicosia.

According to the paper, the Turkish "embassy" has interrupted this procedure lately in an unjustified way. Technical experts, speaking to the paper, argued that this negative development will affect the local companies with financial and moral difficulties. It will also force the local companies to cooperate with companies in the "South" (translator's note: refers to the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus).

Finally, the paper wonders if this development, which has occurred in a short time after the failure of the Cyprus talks at Crans Montana, has anything to do with the implementation of plan B.

(DPs)

[04] Akinci met with Lord Balfe

As it was announced, during the meeting, Akinci "briefed" Balfe about the latest developments on the Cyprus problem which lead to the failure of the Cyprus talks in Crans Montana, Switzerland.

(AK)

[05] Turkey reshuffles land, air and navy commanders at key military meeting

Replacements were made at the YAS meeting in Ankara under the leadership of Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m and with the approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Topics on existing security threats and the fight against terrorism were also covered in the meeting.

Y?ld?r?m said Turkey is currently fighting three terror groups and that significant results were achieved in the last year.

Gendarmerie Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Guler will replace Land Forces Commander Gen. Salih Zeki Colak, with the possibility of being appointed as the Chief of General Staff in 2019 under the normal promotion system.

Gen. Hasan Kucukakyuz, commander of the ballistic missile defense unit at Eskisehir Air Base, will replace Air Forces Commander Gen. Abidin Unal. Vice Adm. Adnan Ozbal will be appointed as the Naval Forces Commander, while Adm. Bulent Bostanoglu will retire.

Ozbal's appointment as commander of the naval forces was a surprising move as Fleet Commander Adm. Veysel Kosele was expected to assume the role because of his higher rank.

All three outgoing commanders have completed their normal terms at their posts.

The replacements came nearly one year after a bloody coup attempt was staged by members of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO) inside the army. Around 200 generals were expelled from their positions in the aftermath of the coup attempt and this year's annual YAS meeting was supposed to reshape the military cadre.

Some 61 colonels were promoted to general and admiral ranks with YAS decisions.

Six generals and admirals were also promoted to higher ranks.

The term of office for eight generals was extended for one year, while the term of office for 168 colonels was extended for another two years.

In a statement before the YAS meeting, Y?ld?r?m commented on Turkey's current security threats and the point it arrived in the fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), FETO and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

"The fight against the PKK has been carried out very successfully especially in the last one year. The strategy for the offensive that was decided early August last year and the work in full coordination with the Turkish Armed Forces and other security units have given the expected result. Last year we decided in the beginning of August to lead the struggle and to work in full coordination with the Turkish Armed Forces and other security units. The struggle against the PKK has reached significant levels," Y?ld?r?m said.

He added that the government had accelerated measures against infiltrations of terrorists from the country's southern border as a result of the "integrated border security program," while adding that the southern region was still the main source of the security problem.

It was the third YAS meeting since last year's failed coup attempt and the second after its structure was changed.

Along with Y?ld?r?m and Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar and some senior army commanders were present at the meeting.

With the change to the structure of YAS, Deputy Prime Ministers as well as Foreign and Interior Ministers are also now required to attend the meeting.

[06] Seventy –two percent of Turkish citizens see the US as security threat

The Washington-based Pew Research Center surveyed 41,953 people in 38 countries over the course of around 11 weeks to find what were seen as the top threats around the world.

In Turkey, the United States was perceived as a greater threat to security than Russia or China.

"Globally, a median of about one-third view the power and influence of the U.S., Russia or China as a major threat. America's influence is a top concern in Turkey," the survey read.

"A year after a failed coup attempt blamed at least in part on the U.S., 72 % in Turkey say American power and influence is a major threat to their country," Jacob Poushter and Dorothy Manevich, co-authors of the report, wrote about the survey on the Pew Research Center's website.

"This figure is up 28% points since 2013, when just 44 % named U.S. power and influence as a major threat. People in Turkey are also worried about the refugee issue [with 64 % citing it as a major threat], which has spilled over their borders in recent years," they added.

Since the election of Donald Trump as U.S. President, the survey found favorable impressions of the U.S. have fallen. Many countries now name the U.S. as a threat, and in some cases like Canada and Turkey, America is more of a concern than Russia or China, the survey found.

But terrorism and global warming continued to be seen as the main overall threats.

"People around the globe identify ISIS and climate change as the leading threats to national security," Poushter and Manevich wrote, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

However, the authors of the report said that due to "heightened security concerns," opinions of ISIL were not questioned in Turkey.

"ISIS is named as the top threat in a total of 18 countries surveyed – mostly concentrated in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States," they wrote.

Global climate change was the second highest threat named in 13 countries. It was the major fear in Canada, at 60% while in Turkey the figure was 53 %.

In all, those surveyed were asked to rank eight threats – ISIL, climate change, cyberattacks from other countries, the condition of the global economy, the large number of refugees, U.S. power and influence, Russia's power and influence and China's power and influence.

The survey was conducted between Feb. 16 and May 8.

[07] Turkey's main opposition CHP to invite all fractions of society to 'justice congress'

The party started organization efforts for the congress by forming a commission that includes CHP deputy leaders Bulent Tezcan, Veli Agbaba, Tekin Bingol, Seyit Torun, Aykut Erdogdu and Cetin Osman Budak.

The congress comes after CHP leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu carried out a "justice march" from Ankara to Istanbul to voice concerns over the record of justice in Turkey.

The march, which was initiated a day after CHP Istanbul lawmaker Enis Berberoglu was sentenced to 25 years in jail for "leaking state secrets" in a Syria-bound intelligence trucks case, received support from many opposition segments, with thousands joining the trek.

Similar to the "justice march," the main opposition is planning to hold the congress at a "supra-party" level after it was approved by the party's Central Executive Board (MYK).

In addition, the paper reports that a committee from the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) Istanbul provincial office visited the Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) "conscience and justice watch" in Istanbul's Kad?koy district on Aug. 2.

The CHP members, including the party's Istanbul provincial head Cemal Canpolat and Istanbul lawmaker Sezgin Tanr?kulu, came to the Kad?koy's Yogurtcu Park at around noon. The HDP started its watch at the park under tight security measures on Aug. 1 after spending a week in the southeastern province of Diyarbak?r.

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(CS / AM)

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