Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 19-03-22

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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] Akinci briefed the newly appointed US Ambassador to Nicosia on the Cyprus issue

[02] Ozersay participated at the OIC meeting held in Istanbul and met with Cavusoglu

[03] Tatar comments on Cavusoglu-Katrougalos' statement

[04] Samani defends Akinci's decision of not attending the bi-communal match in Pila

[05] "Backstage efforts by UBP and HP for the formation of a new government" in the occupied area of Cyprus, sources say

[06] Afrika's "lawsuit" continues

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Turkey slams Trump's Golan Heights tweet

[02] Akar reiterates that they will not let anyone override Turkey's rights in the sea

[03] Donmez says high-quality oil discovered in Turkey

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[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Akinci briefed the newly appointed US Ambassador to Nicosia on the Cyprus issue

According to illegal Bayrak television (22.03.19, http://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=akinci-receives-garber), Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met with the newly appointed US Ambassador to Nicosia Ms Judith Gail Garber.

The US Ambassador began her duty in Cyprus on the 18th of March.

During the visit, Akinci informed the US Ambassador about the essence of the Cyprus issue and the efforts made by the Turkish Cypriot side in the hope of finding a solution. He also claimed that the Greek Cypriot side retreating on the Turkish Cypriot side's political equality was creating a serious obstacle in the solution process.

Referring to the hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean, Akinci said that the vision for the hydrocarbons should be aimed at protecting regional peace and security.

Explaining that years ago the European Union membership needed to be an encouraging element for a solution in Cyprus, Akinci added that this did not take place and this was a mistake.

Noting that a similar mistake was taking place now on the hydrocarbons issue, Akinci said that instead of the international community encouraging the sides towards cooperation, they encourage the Greek Cypriot side to take unilateral steps and this is not assisting in the solution process on the island.

[02] Ozersay participated at the OIC meeting held in Istanbul and met with Cavusoglu

Illegal Bayrak (22.03.19 http://www.brtk.net/ozersay-istanbulda-iit-toplantisina-katildi/ ) participated in a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation held in Istanbul which was convened due to the terrorist attack in New Zealand.

On the framework of the meeting Ozersay met with the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Ozersay expressed in his social media accounts his support towards the victims of the attack in New Zealand.

(CS)

[03] Tatar comments on Cavusoglu-Katrougalos' statement

Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog (22.03.19) reports that the chairman of the main opposition National Unity Party (UBP) Ersin Tatar, in statements yesterday during a televised program, referred to the statements made yesterday by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu after meeting with the Greek Foreign Minister George Katrougalos, on the issue of Turkish guarantees and Turkey's plans to start drillings in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Supporting that Cavusoglu's statements are on the right direction, Tatar welcomed Cavusoglu's statement that Turkey will not withdraw from the active and effective guarantees in Cyprus. "Turkey has realized as we did as well that federation is not possible in Cyprus. It is necessary to bring to the table for discussion other alternatives such as confederation, or a two state solution inside the EU. This is the right path that must be followed", Tatar alleged.

Referring to Katrougalos statement that "Turkey has also rights in the Eastern Mediterranean and thus it cannot be excluded", Tatar stated the following: "Greece does not refer to the Turkish Cypriot's rights at all. Why? I wonder if it wants Turkey to withdraw from its rights in Cyprus so that to gain the right to overpower us. It is out of question for this to happen", Tatar argued.

(AK)

[04] Samani defends Akinci's decision of not attending the bi-communal match in Pila

According to illegal Bayrak television (22.03.19, http://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=samani-defends-akincis-decision), Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci's Special Advisor for Political Affairs and History Meltem Onurkan Samani said that despite the fact that Akinci had explained his reasons for not attending Tuesday's bi-communal match in Pila he was still being unfairly criticized. She said that the criticisms against Akinci were a sign of insincerity.

Speaking on a TV program, Samani said that Akinci's decision not to attend was based on a just principle. Noting that "Akinci has been working for a comprehensive settlement and the development of inter-communal relations since he took office in 2015", Samani argued that efforts for the creation of a federal culture were not without principles. She said that political equality and reciprocity were the fundamental principles of those very efforts being made to establish a federal culture.

Samani also claimed that the role and presence of the UN in Cyprus was being questioned for more than a year now, adding that the UN's excuse that it could not provide the security of an event in the buffer zone had led to the questioning of its very presence. She alleged that the reasons put forward did not sound reasonable or logical. (…)

Samani also argued that the excuse that the stadium in Pila was not up to international standards was also unacceptable. "The game was a symbolic match. What was important here was the meaning of the match. The aim was not to hold a match at a stadium that was in line with international standards," she added.

Responding to a question as to whether or not the decision not to attend had anything to do with the "2020 presidential elections", Samani said that "Akinci had still not decided whether he will run for a second term".

Replying to another question, Samani, who is also the general coordinator for the technical committees, said that work was continuing on implementing the confidence-building measures agreed upon at the last leaders' meeting on 26 February.

[05] "Backstage efforts by UBP and HP for the formation of a new government" in the occupied area of Cyprus, sources say

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (22.03.19) in its editorial under the title: "On the way to an UBP-HP government", invoking reliable sources, reports that there are behind the scenes efforts in the "TRNC" during the past few days for the formation of a new "government" in the occupied area of Cyprus between the main opposition National Unity Party (UBP) and the People's Party (HP)

According to the paper, the bargaining between the two parties has started 15 days ago, they were interrupted for a while and afterwards they started again with the two parties exchanging views on the future path to follow.

The paper adds that in the forthcoming days another crisis is expected to occur inside the circles of the so-called four-party coalition government, taking into consideration that the HP has openly stated that it disagrees with the new increases implemented recently by the "government" on electricity. This statement by HP has caused the reaction of the other three "partners in the government", writes the paper.

The same sources said to the paper that the forthcoming period will be very important towards this issue since there will be new developments, especially after the end of the local elections in Turkey, on March 31. The same circles support that the efforts for the "formation of a new government" will be intensified within the next days.

(AK)

[06] Afrika's "lawsuit" continues

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (22.03.19) reports that the lawsuit against the paper, for re-publishing a caricature of the Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan continued yesterday.

The "lawsuit" continued with the defense witnesses Senih Cavusoglu, Sami Ozuslu and Umit Inatci who stated that are against the restrictions put in press and in favor of the freedom of expression. They also stated that they do not find Erdogan's caricature to be offensive.

(CS)

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[B] Turkish Press

[01] Turkey slams Trump's Golan Heights tweet

According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (22.03.19, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-slams-trumps-golan-heights-tweet-142086), Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on March 22 that U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that it was time to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights has brought the region to the edge of a new crisis.

In a speech at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Erdogan said: "We cannot allow the legitimization of the occupation of the Golan Heights. U.S. President's unfortunate remarks on Golan Heights brought the region to the brink of new crisis, tension".

"The territorial integrity of states is the most fundamental principle of international law," said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in a tweet. "Attempts by the U.S. to legitimize Israel's actions against international law will only lead to more violence and pain in the region. Turkey supports Syria's territorial integrity," he added.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kal?n also condemned the preposterous claim. "The territorial integrity of countries is protected under int'l law," Kal?n said in a tweet. "The US government's @realDonaldTrump attempts to legitimate Israel's illegal actions towards Golan Heights mean nothing but supporting Israel's policy of occupation and deepening the conflict in the region," Kal?n added. (…)

[02] Akar reiterates that they will not let anyone override Turkey's rights in the sea

According to Turkish daily Hurriyet (21.03.19, http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/bakan-akar-silahli-kuvvetlerimiz-gerekli-hazirliklarini-planlarini-yapti-41157234), Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar said that they are still working continuously on the defence of their "blue homeland" [Turkey's territorial waters]. He further said: "The members of our Armed Forces - navy, air and land forces - are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (…) We always support dialogue, peace and good neighbourly relations in the Black Sea, the Aegean, the Eastern Mediterranean and in Cyprus, however we will not let anyone override the right of this nation. We took and we will continue to take all kinds of measures in the concept of 'life and death'".

(DPs)

[03] Donmez says high-quality oil discovered in Turkey

According to Turkish daily Sabah (22.03.19, https://www.dailysabah.com/energy/2019/03/22/high-quality-oil-discovered-in-turkeys-diyarbakir-siirt-provinces), Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez announced yesterday that Turkey has discovered high-quality oil in the southeastern provinces of Siirt and Diyarbak?r as a result of ongoing oil exploration activities in the region.

Minister Donmez noted that Turkey has intensified oil and gas exploration activities and pointed to last month's natural gas discovery in Thrace. The latest gas reserve discovery would double the total reserves. Some 3 billion cubic meters of gas is enough to meet the 10-year demand of 300,000 households, the Minister added. It will also add TL 5 billion to the current account balance.

In an area 25 Km from Siirt, Turkish Petroleum discovered a new oil field, he announced. The commercially viable reserve in the field is around 2 million barrels, the Minister said. (…)

The well in Diyarbak?r is capable of producing 200 barrels of oil per day and has an API gravity of 45. Oil value above 31.1 API gravity is considered light oil, which is less costly to process in refineries compared to heavy crude. "We will hopefully commercially utilize the 5.26 million barrels of oil reserves for the Turkish economy, and we aim to develop 50 more wells with hydro fracking," Minister Donmez said.

Another well discovered in Diyarbak?r is Hancerli-5 where the daily output capacity rose by nine times and exceeded 910 barrels per day. "The oil in this field is 37 API value and is estimated to contain 6 million barrels," Donmez said. The Demirkuyu-1 oil well in Siirt is forecast to have 11.2 million barrels in reserves. The daily output capacity in the well is currently 450 barrels, and the Ministry plans to raise this amount to 1,000 barrels.

The three wells will produce 560 barrels of oil per day, corresponding to TL 220 million at current prices, the Minister explained.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(DPs/ลว)

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