Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 19-06-07

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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] Tatar argues that Turkey's support and contributions are needed for the further development of the "TRNC"

[02] Kibris Postasi newspaper obtains information regarding the "interim protocol" between Turkey and the "TRNC"

[03] Albayrak: "Excuse me, but no one can tell us not to enter in the Eastern Mediterranean or not to search for oil"

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Turkey removes 13 election officials under probe ahead of Istanbul polls

[02] US: Turkey's S-400 purchase creates unacceptable risks

[03] President Erdogan, Saudi Arabia's King Salman talk over phone

[04] Opinion polls show CHP's candidate to lead the election race for Istanbul municipality

[05] "Beware! They're going to strike Turkey from Cyprus!"

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[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Tatar argues that Turkey's support and contributions are needed for the further development of the "TRNC"

According to illegal Bayrak television (07.06.19, http://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=tatar-visits-guzelyurt-lefke), the leader of National Unity Party and "prime minister" Ersin Tatar visited occupied Morphou and Lefka yesterday where he exchanged bayram greetings with citizens and party supporters.

Speaking there, Tatar referred to the development of the "TRNC" and said that Turkey's support and contributions were needed for the further development of the "TRNC".

Reminding that he held meetings with Turkish officials after receiving a "vote of confidence at parliament", he said: "We conveyed our projects and views to the Turkish officials. We are on duty and we will work day and night to serve the people."

Stressing that they attached great importance to "Guzelyurt" (occupied village of Morphou), Tatar said that "the government will spend more time on problems in the region", adding that they will work more to finish the "Guzelyurt hospital" and the "Guzelyurt-Lefke dual carriage way road" as well as to solve other problems in the region.

Explaining that various projects will be brought to the agenda for utilizing the potential of occupied village of Lefka and promoting the region in the tourism sector, he said all measures will be taken for the region to serve as a full district.

[02] Kibris Postasi newspaper obtains information regarding the "interim protocol" between Turkey and the "TRNC"

Under the title "The interim protocol will also have conditions", Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (07.06.19), on its front page, reports that during the visit of "prime minister" Ersin Tatar, "foreign minister" Kudret Ozersay and "finance minister" Olgun Amcaoglu to Turkey before Bayram, it was agreed with the Turkish officials to sign an interim protocol that will cover from the point that they left it off in 2019. It was also reported that this interim protocol contains a number of conditions and tasks that fall on UBP-HP "government".

According to some evaluations, it was stated that it is extremely wrong to evaluate that Turkey will transfer resources unquestionably and in order for the 1,2 billion TL resource to be released as it is expected in the 6 month protocol, "TRNC government" has a lot of share on this.

The paper further writes: "The first and most important article of the interim protocol is a commitment to sign a three-year financial protocol covering 2020, 2021 and 2022. In order for the content of the three-year protocol to be elaborated, it is expected that the technical committees will work in October 2019 when the 2020 fiscal yearly budget law will be sent to the parliament and then they will address the vital changes, which are expected to be in the three-year protocol at the additional protocol.

One of the conditions of the interim protocol, which is expected to be valid until the end of 2019, is that the 'public finance management and control law' will come into force by the end of this year. (?) Another condition of the interim protocol is that the tourism incentive legislation, which came into force in 2017, will be amended. The officials, who said that beneficial results have been achieved with the tourism incentive legislation, stated that the TRNC and Turkey authorities have agreed that this legislation should be updated according to the changing conditions.

Another condition of the interim protocol is for concrete steps to be taken in relation to the local government reform. Among the information obtained by Kibris Postasi is that an important expectation is that concrete steps will be taken and will enter into a legal process of enacting the municipal reforms in the event that a six-month period will not be sufficient in terms of being a comprehensive law.

While it was expected that the interim protocol will be extremely short and consist of two to three pages, it was stated that after this protocol, it was possible to start transferring two types of resources categorized as loans and grants. Finally, it was stated that approximately 695 million TL are expected in the category of grants for defence expenditures and infrastructure investments, as well as a resource of 575 million TL may be possible to be released with the interim protocol in the category of loans for the compensations of the immovable property commission, the support for the real sector and the interest expenses."

(DPs)

[03] Albayrak: "Excuse me, but no one can tell us not to enter in the Eastern Mediterranean or not to search for oil"

According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (07.06.19, http://www.kibrispostasi.com/c36-TURKIYE/n287381-berat-albayrak-birileri-dogu-akdenize-giremezsin-diyor-kimse), Turkey's Minister of Finance and Treasury Berat Albayrak said: "Excuse me, but no one can tell us not to enter to the eastern Mediterranean, not to search for oil or not to do business with them".

Claiming that there has been an enormous attack on their economy the last eight to ten months, Albayrak said that they will continue with firm steps to fight and to defend their country. He further said: "Excuse me, but no one can tell us not to enter to the eastern Mediterranean, not to search for oil or not to do business with them. Turkey gives every day a very tough fight for the last six years that the independence struggle has begun. (?)"

(DPs)

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[B] Turkish Press

[01] Turkey removes 13 election officials under probe ahead of Istanbul polls

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (07.06.19 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-removes-13-election-officials-under-probe-ahead-of-istanbul-polls-143979) reports that Turkey's election watchdog has removed and launched a disciplinary probe against 13 election officials over their alleged responsibility for the irregularities detected in the Istanbul municipal election in late March.

The move came less than three weeks before Istanbul's rerun elections on June 23.

"Thirteen chairs of the balloting boxes (in Istanbul) have been assigned to other cities due to excessive irregularities in choosing heads of polling station officials and members," Sadi Guven, the head of the Supreme Election Board (YSK), said in a written statement late June 5.

He also announced that a disciplinary investigation was launched and criminal complaints issued against these personnel.

Guven's statements followed strong reactions from political parties after a decision by the YSK ruled out any action against provincial heads of the YSK in Istanbul where irregularities have been cited.

The YSK head recalled that the removal and promotion of the judges is under the responsibility of the Judges and Prosecutors Council (HSK) and that notifications regarding these judges have already been made. "The appointments and dismissal of judges are not under the authority of the YSK," Guven said.

The YSK had cancelled Istanbul polls on the grounds that scores of irregularities had been detected in the composition of polling stations officials and ruled for the renewal of polls on June 23.

Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul candidate Ekrem Imamoglu had slammed the YSK's initial decision on not taking any action against the provincial heads, saying: "By giving this decision, they have declared openly that the justification they have issued (for cancelling Istanbul votes) has no meaning at all. Our democracy has received a major blow."

[02] US: Turkey's S-400 purchase creates unacceptable risks

Turkish daily Yeni Safak (07.06.19 https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/turkeys-s-400-purchase-creates-unacceptable-risks-us-3482678) reports that Turkey's purchase of Russia's S-400 missile defense system creates "unacceptable risks" for the U.S., a Department of Defense official said Thursday.

"The radar system would provide Russia with military sensitive info on the F-35, which is our top-quality fifth-generation aircraft," Andrew Winternitz, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy, said at a panel hosted by Foreign Policy magazine.

"From our perspective, there are no measures that can mitigate our concerns on this," he added.

[03] President Erdogan, Saudi Arabia's King Salman talk over phone

Turkish daily Yeni Safak (07.06.19 https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/president-erdogan-saudi-arabias-king-salman-talk-over-phone-3482665) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments on Thursday.

The two leaders also exchanged Eid greetings, the festival marking the end of Ramadan. The Saudi king thanked Erdogan for Turkey's efforts during its term presidency in Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), according to reports.

[04] Opinion polls show CHP's candidate to lead the election race for Istanbul municipality

Turkish daily Cumhuriyet (07.06.19) writes that two opinion poll companies started to "feelthe pulse of the people" as regards the forthcoming municipal elections in Istanbul to be held on June 23.

According to the Optiman opinion poll company, the candidate of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Ekrem Imamoglu is leading the election race with 52% and the candidate of the Justice and Development Part (AKP) Binali Yildirim is second with 48%.

Also according to MAK Research Firm, Imamoglu is leading the race with 50,3% followed by Yildirim with 48,2%. Necdet Gokcinar, the candidate of the Felicity Party )SP) receives only 0,75%.

[05] "Beware! They're going to strike Turkey from Cyprus!"

Under the above title, Yeni Safak (07.06.19 https://www.yenisafak.com/en/columns/yusufkaplan/beware-theyre-going-to-strike-turkey-from-cyprus-2047060) publishes the following article by Yusuf Kaplan:

"Are we aware that as the Republic of Turkey, for decades we have been following Cyprus policies, that are going to endanger both Turkey and Cyprus's future without rhyme or reason?

It seems that the upcoming years ? as a matter of fact, the next decades ? will be shaped according to Cyprus and its surroundings.

We are aware of the military buildup but not the cultural colonization

As Turkey, we closely follow the developments around Cyprus. That is why Turkey recently conducted the biggest military drill of the century; this was a very important drill conducted simultaneously on the ground, in the air and sea.

Through this drill, we gave the message to the U.S., U.K., Russia, France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, and Israel, which have been amassing battleships and war craft in Cyprus and its vicinity, and stirring up tensions in the East Mediterranean waters with the excuse of gas and oil, that we are alert against their attempts.

This message was received loud and clear by the concerned parties.

Just as tensions in Iraq, then Syria were elevated and used by imperialists in the last quarter century to siege the region, particularly Turkey; in the following period, the East Mediterranean in general, and especially Cyprus are going to be used in the same way to siege Turkey, and as a matter of fact to strike us at our first great weakness.

We are at least aware of the new strategic games being played around Cyprus, in the East Mediterranean.

However, I am not asking whether we are aware of how the developments in Cyprus are gradually paving the way to incidents "that are going to lead us to completely lose Cyprus." I am not asking, because I do not think we are in a state to comprehend what is happening in Cyprus or prevent what is trying to be done, and this is what frightens me. Clearly, I am crying out, 'They are going to strike Turkey from Cyprus.'

There are Turks in Cyprus that want Turkey to withdraw from the island

For almost two years now, a formation called Unite Cyprus Now is carrying out projects that will threaten both the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Turkey.

The K?br?s Postas? (Cyprus Post) newspaper published an article on Jan. 25, 2018, about this formation. I am going to share a quote from that article, a quote which will raise the hair on your neck:

'The Unite Cyprus Now group called out to all Cypriots on 11:00 a.m. Saturday in the Ledra/Lokmac? buffer zone to join them and raise their voices against radicalism and disunity'.

The group's written statement said that one of the most saddening manifestations of radicalism was experienced yesterday. It was pointed out that an organized group, which had attacked and harmed Afrika's newspaper and attacked journalists, climbed atop the parliament roof and unfurled a flag belonging to one of the clans that form the Ottoman Empire.

In the statement that drew attention to President Mustafa Ak?nc? facing a verbal attack, and to Republican Turkish Party (CTP) deputy Dogus Derya facing both verbal and physical attack as she was taking her oath, the following was reported:

'What happened yesterday is the result of disunity. In the event that disunity continues, the Green Line is going to increasingly become a border with Turkey, Turkey's influence in Cyprus is going to further increase, the migration flow to the island is going to increase uncontrollably, and the conditions and tensions in Turkey will reflect on the island.

Radicalism is going to increase in both communities and our chance to establish a joint, stable, secure, prosperous future based on the superiority of law, democracy, tolerance, human rights and peaceful coexistence for the future generation will be in danger.

A federal solution alone will make Cyprus secure and independent in the true sense, and allow the rule of the superiority of law on our island. The assumption that the status quo is safe and sustainable in our region, which is surrounded by wars, conflicts and terrorism, is a delusion.'

We are losing Cyprus

I read this article and the statement it contains with shivers.

There are Turks in Cyprus that want Turkey to withdraw from Cyprus.

Cyprus is the sole force, the sole common civilization and historical awareness we have. If it is not for this common civilization and historical awareness, even if we had full control over Cyprus, we would lose it sooner or later.

This is the state we are currently in. We have a military presence in Cyprus, but not a cultural one.

Cypriot Greeks and Cypriot Turks are completely secular.

Let it be known that culture-wise, we have lost Cyprus.

Hence, in order to culturally win Cyprus again, we need to form a common civilization and historical awareness, and raise the economic and social welfare of our brethren in the TRNC above that of the Greeks.

Thus, it appears that we might completely lose Cyprus ? which we lost culturally ? that the people in the TRNC are not going to object to this, and as a matter of fact, they are going to start to demand this. You can re-read the article in the K?br?s Postas? with this perspective now.

Yes, they are going to strike Turkey from Cyprus.

First, they are going to make sure Turkey is distanced from Cyprus ? which is something we already did with our own hands: Cyprus is culturally closer to the Greeks, not us. If there is anybody in Turkey that says Turkey is culturally present in Cyprus, please give them my regards.

Secondly, imperialists are going to shape their next 50-year, century-long strategies through Cyprus. They are going to attack us from Cyprus.

The most permanent way to prevent imperialists from attacking us through Cyprus is by joining forces around a common civilization and historical awareness with Cypriot Turks.

We are culturally losing Cyprus.

If we do not want to lose it completely in the future ? which will result in Turkey's division, God forbid ? we have to take the necessary measures before it is too late."

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS/AM)

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