Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-08-21

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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] Atun invited the Russian Energy Minister to visit the occupation regime

[02] Elcil criticizes Akinci's silence to Celik's statement that the Cyprus negotiations have ended

[03] Columnist: If there is a new development in Cyprus, Celik will say

[04] Turkish former EU Minister alleges that the "Taiwan model" is a "feasible solution" in Cyprus

[05] Tunali claimed that "property was allocated to 31 foreigners" following a "council of ministers' decision"

[06] Reshuffle in the Turkish Armed Forces

[07] Settlers protest against Kibris newspaper for publishing a caricature in May

[08] A "protocol" for the construction of a hospital in occupied Karpasia was signed

[09] The decrease in the regime's trade volume with Turkey changes in favor of the latter

[10] Erdogan calls on Turks in Germany not to vote for 'Turkey's enemies' Merkel, Schulz and the Greens

[11] Erdogan criticizes US for weapons sent to SDF in Syria

[12] Erdogan due to visit Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and New York in September; Erdogan to meet with Trump

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Atun invited the Russian Energy Minister to visit the occupation regime

After the opening ceremony, Atun inaugurated the "TRNC stand" at the fair. A total of 10 Turkish Cypriot firms under the "umbrella of the Turkish Cypriot chamber of industry" are taking part in the fair.

Upon an invitation by Atun, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Faruk Ozlu and the Russian Federation Energy Minister Alexander Novak visited the "TRNC stand" and were treated halloumi/ hellim and other local products.

Atun also extended an invitation to the Russian Federation Energy Minister Alexander Novak to visit the "TRNC".

[02] Elcil criticizes Akinci's silence to Celik's statement that the Cyprus negotiations have ended

In a written statement, Elcil noted that the Turkish officials have been using the negotiating process to gain time while trying to turn the de facto situation in the northern occupied area of Cyprus into "integration with Turkey". Elcil underlines that the Turkish officials "are openly showing their intentions now" adding:

"Mr Akinci is watching the events and leaving aside the fact that he says nothing for the colonization activities which continue internally, he is even following silently the statements by Turkish Minister Omer Celik, who thinks he has the authority to announce that the negotiations ended. […] We want to ask Mr Akinci, who remained silent to this statement: Who is the negotiator? You or the Turkish officials?"

(I/Ts.)

[03] Columnist: If there is a new development in Cyprus, Celik will say

"[…] We sometimes see ourselves as a really 'separate state'. This is the problem. If we see the reality, we will not be bitterly resentful. We are not equals to Turkey. We are not politically equal. […] The demand for political equality is submitted only against the Greek Cypriots. […] In the non-solution environment we are a 'subordinate administration'. We are unique of course. Like a spoiled rich child. […]

Therefore, Turkey's EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Omer Celik can say that the comprehensive negotiations in Cyprus have ended and that they have not been frozen or postponed. No one says, no one can say to him 'who are you'. No one can call him to account saying 'what happened to you'. […] Why? First, this is not in harmony with diplomatic curtesy. Second, Turkey has the effective and de facto control in the northern part of the island. Third, Turkey is the guarantor. Fourth, the majority is in favor of the continuation of 'guarantees'. Fifth, the expression that 'whoever pays the piper calls the tune' is not just a proverb! […]

Very well, what is the reality regarding the negotiations? I do not know! And be sure that it is not a shame for me as a journalist not to know this, because no one knows. No one knows from the president of the republic, to the prime minister, from the heads of the village to the members of the village council, from the ambassador to the district officer! If there is a new development, Celik will say!"

(I/Ts.)

[04] Turkish former EU Minister alleges that the "Taiwan model" is a "feasible solution" in Cyprus

"Every morning the sun rises in this beautiful island of the Mediterranean over two separate democracies, two separately elected parliaments, two separate presidents of the republic, and two separate governments. We see one of them and other countries see the other. However, the time has come for everybody to see and recognize both".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Tunali claimed that "property was allocated to 31 foreigners" following a "council of ministers' decision"

According to Tunali, the "council of ministers" "decided" during a "recent meeting" to "allocate" to 31 foreigners living in the occupied area of Cyprus "essence property".

Stating that the public opinion has the right to be informed in detail about this "decision" which was kept secret, Tunali called on the "officials" to explain "to whom they had given the right to acquire property, for which purposes and who is the minister who made this proposal to the council of ministers".

(…)

(AK)

[06] Reshuffle in the Turkish Armed Forces

According to these, Major General Yilmaz Yildirim has been appointed as "commander" of the so-called security forces.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (20.08.17) reported that the Special Forces Commander Lieutenant Gen. Zekai Aksakall?, who commanded anti-coup forces during the July 15 coup attempt and the Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria, was reshuffled to command the Second Army Corps in the western region of Gelibolu.

The appointments that had not come into effect with the Supreme Military Council (YAS) were announced in the official gazette on August 19.

The Special Forces Second Brigade Commander Ahmet Ercan Corbac? was appointed to command the Special Forces Unit in place of Aksakall?.

Aksakall? was a witness to the killing of anti-coup soldier Omer Halisdemir, who has been idolized for his actions during a raid on the Special Forces Command in Ankara on the night of the July 15 coup attempt, and said in his initial statement that he ordered Halisdemir to kill Semih Terzi, believed to be one of the top coup plotters.

With this appointment, the Special Forces Commandership which is a lieutenant level position was downgraded to a brigade level.

Ankara Central Brigadier Oguz Tozak was appointed to the Special Forces Deputy Commandership.

Brigadier Idris Acarturk was appointed to the Brigadier Commandership of the Special Forces.

Lieutenant General Arif Cetin was appointed to the General Commandership of the gendarmerie and raised to be a general by a decision which was announced in the official gazette.

Four-star general Yasar Guler held the position before Arif Cetin. Guler had been appointed to Land Forces Command.

Deputy General Commandership of Gendermarie Lieutenant Gen. Ata Kalkan asked to retire following the decision.

(…)

[07] Settlers protest against Kibris newspaper for publishing a caricature in May

The Turkish Cypriot Journalists' Union issued a statement denouncing the fact that a newspaper and journalists were accused of racism for a caricature published more than three months ago. The union described this as "an attempt to deal a great blow to the freedom of the press".

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (21.08.17) wonders who instigated the protest three months after the caricature was published. The YDP was supported by the associations of settlers from Alexandretta, Cukurova, Adiyaman and some other organizations, notes Afrika, adding that Kibris newspaper's executive editor, Ali Baturay rejected the racism accusations made by the settlers against his paper and noted that declaring Kibris Media Group as racist and enemy of Turkey was not fair.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (21.08.17) reports that the caricature signed by Utku Karsu "brought onto the agenda various realities". The paper republishes the caricature which shows a ship [from Turkey] bringing people to the occupied area of Cyprus as "tourists". These people hold pistols, knives and swards and look like criminals.

(I/Ts.)

[08] A "protocol" for the construction of a hospital in occupied Karpasia was signed

A "protocol" was "signed" yesterday at the "ministry" between the so-called minister Faiz Sucuoglu, civil engineer Ozgun Akcan and mechanical engineer Mustafa Dagbas?.

During the signing ceremony the mukhtars from the occupied Karpasia region and "ministry officials" were present.

The hospital will be built on a 20 donums of land near the occupied Tavros village.

Speaking after the ceremony, Sucuoglu recalled the promises he made that a health centre would be built in every region and claimed that up until today he had been able to keep his promise.

"The hospital to be built in the Karpaz area will overcome a great deficiency in the area. The hospital will serve many villages and will contribute to the tourist industry. It will also invite new investments in the region", Sucuoglu claimed.

[09] The decrease in the regime's trade volume with Turkey changes in favor of the latter

The regime's exports to Turkey, however, decreased by 0,95%. On the contrary, Turkey's exports to the occupied area of Cyprus increased by 10,94%. The trade deficit increased by 12,22% and reached 436,5 million dollars.

(I/Ts.)

[10] Erdogan calls on Turks in Germany not to vote for 'Turkey's enemies' Merkel, Schulz and the Greens

"Right now in Germany the [Social Democrats] SPD and the [Christian Democrats] CDU are saying: 'We can get many votes if we batter Turkey.' I am telling all my citizens in Germany to never support those parties. "Do not support the CDU, the SPD or the Greens. They are all the enemies of Turkey," Erdogan told reporters after Friday's prayers in Istanbul on August 18. "Give the necessary support to political parties that do not engage in enmity against Turkey. It is not important whether they are the first or the second party," he added.

The call prompted a reaction from German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who blasted Erdogan's remarks as "interference."

Over a million Turks living in Germany have the right to vote in the upcoming general elections scheduled for September 24.

Turks in Germany have recently founded two parties, Alliance for Innovation and Justice (BIG) and Allianz Deutscher Demokraten (ADD). Both parties ran in the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia but they are not eligible to run in the general elections.

Erdogan said that voting is "in a way a struggle for honor for all my citizens living in Germany."

"I call on them [Turks in Germany] not to vote for those parties who have been engaged in such aggressive, disrespectful attitudes against Turkey. I invite them to teach a lesson to those political parties at the ballot box," he added.

Commenting on German Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent remarks that Berlin would not pursue an update of the Customs Union, Erdogan denied Ankara's responsibility for the ongoing tensions. "If anyone is responsible for this, it's Germany. Germany has been carrying out its internal political disputes by embroiling Turkey and some other European countries," he claimed.

Saying that the EU did not fulfill its promise to give Turkey 6 million euros as part of a refugee deal signed between Brussels and Ankara, Erdogan praised Turkey for spending "over 30 million euros on refugees so far."

"Did the European Union fulfill its promise? It didn't. What's Germany talking about at the moment? The upcoming elections. The SPD and the Christian Democrats are basically saying: 'The more we beat up Turkey, the more votes we win,'" he said.

"Germany has fallen into a situation where it has become a country that does not even obey the [accession] acquis of the European Union," Erdogan added, saying that Turkey "doesn't need advice from Germany regarding the EU accession process."

"We have never been in a fight against EU countries and we are absolutely not thinking about such a thing. But we will not allow any country to play with our dignity and honor," he said.

(…)

[11] Erdogan criticizes US for weapons sent to SDF in Syria

"The weapons that have been distributed to the organizations in the name of the fight against Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] in Syria and Iraq have been withheld in the attacks that the PKK [outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party] have operated in Turkey," Erdogan said on August 20.

"We know which country's weapons are in the hands of the PKK, the YPG [Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units], the PYD [Democratic Union Party] or Daesh," he added.

As Turkey deems the YPG and PYD as a Syrian offshoot of the outlawed PKK, the issue is a matter of the dispute between Ankara and Washington since the U.S. is supporting the Kurdish forces within the anti-ISIL coalition.

"There are more than a thousand trucks that have come from Iraq to Syria. They were delivered to terrorist organizations in Syria. Now they reportedly use them in Syria. Then, they will be used against Turkey," he said.

"We have informed the U.S. President Donald Trump. 'What will you do with those weapons?' we have asked. We want them to be taken back," Erdogan added.

[12] Erdogan due to visit Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and New York in September; Erdogan to meet with Trump

Erdogan will meet Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in Astana between September 8 and 10. He will then travel to Azerbaijan on September 10-11 where he will meet Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Developments in Iraq and Syria, the Qatari crisis, the Astana process aiming to find a solution for the Syrian war and the fight against terrorism are expected to be discussed at the meetings, according to presidential sources who asked to remain anonymous.

Erdogan will also travel to New York between September 19 and 25 to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting. He is slated to deliver a speech at the leaders' summit.

He will also attend a dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and is expected to meet with him and other leaders on the sidelines of the gathering.

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(AK / AA)

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