Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 19-07-12

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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] Cavusoglu to the EU: "We will increase our activities in Cyprus"

[02] Mobile phone link now working on both sides of Cyprus

[03] How the Press covers the interoperability of mobile phones across the island

[04] Aksoy's statement on the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean

[05] Turkish Ambassador claims that the EU has already damaged its relations with Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots

[06] Professor Dr Vural says that the "Monaco model" cannot be implemented in Cyprus

[07] Committee for the inventory study in occupied fenced-off Varosha holds its first meeting

[08] TCG submarine to be open for public visit in occupied Keryneia

[B] Turkish Press

[01] S-400 delivery process has started, Turkey says

[02] Celik comments on EU threats of restrictive measures on Turkey over Eastern Mediterranean drilling; Turkey threats to suspend migration deal with the EU

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[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Cavusoglu to the EU: "We will increase our activities in Cyprus"

According to illegal Bayrak television (12.07.19-http://www.brtk.net/cavusoglundan-abye-tepki/ Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavsuoglu, in statements during a joint press conference after meeting with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis, reacted against the EU and the possible measures to be taken against Turkey for its drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, supporting that Turkey would continue its drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Cavusoglu stated that in case the EU undertake steps against Turkey, they would respond appropriately and they would increase their activities in Cyprus. "Any steps against us would be useless. If this happens, we would undertake additional steps", Cavusoglu said, adding: "We will do all necessary to protect Turkey's and Turkish Cypriots' rights. Our proposal is clear. The Turkish Cypriots have also rights on the hydrocarbons surrounding the island and these rights should be secured. The Turkish Cypriot sides' rights should be guaranteed. Any steps against us is backlash. If any steps are taken against us, we will respond appropriately and increase further our activities in Cyprus", Cavusoglu said.

Commenting also on the EU Commission, which put forward options on measures against Turkish activities in the Eastern Mediterranean to the EU Council, Cassis said the following: "There would be no solution on this issue without dialogue, so for the solution, a dialogue channel should be established between Cyprus and Turkey. The problems experienced in the Eastern Mediterranean is another reflection of the basic problem. Switzerland is ready to contribute to the creation of a necessary climate so that the basic problem [Translator's note: meaning the Cyprus problem], to be solved".

(AK)

[02] Mobile phone link now working on both sides of Cyprus

According to illegal Bayrak television (12.07.19, http://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=mobile-phone-links-established-between-two-sides), the two leaders on Thursday announced the implementation of the interoperability of mobile phones across the island with the aim of improving the communication between the communities and bringing all Cypriots closer together.

According to an announcement by UNFICYP, the first call took place between the two leaders at 12:45 pm, facilitated by the Special Representative to the Secretary-General on Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar, confirming that the arrangement is now live and working. "The achievement of this confidence-building measure (CBM) underlines the importance of dialogue, trust and cooperation between both sides," the announcement said.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Ak?nc? and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades also discussed the possibility of meeting the soonest possible with the aim of evaluating the situation as regards to the current state of play on the Cyprus problem as well as furthering more potential CBMs which will affect positively the daily lives of all Cypriots.

In a written statement yesterday, Ak?nc? welcomed the implementation of the CBM. He congratulated all institutions, organizations and individuals who supported the efforts to make the interoperability of mobile phones possible. "This is an extremely important service. Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots would lose all sorts of contact with their homes when they crossed over to the other side. Think of it, there was no possibility of using your mobile phone when you moved further away from the border. This was the case at a time when mobile phones work even in the remotest places on the planet. This was unacceptable in all ways," he said.

Ak?nc? said that the island-wide interoperability of mobile phones was an extremely pleasing development even though it was possible through a hub based in Switzerland. "I hope we shall see the days when we shall be able to use our mobile phones without the need for an intermediary hub. It may have taken some time but better late than never," he added.

Ak?nc? reminded that the ultimate goal was to reach a mutually acceptable settlement that safeguarded political equality, freedom and security. "No doubt such positive developments will help build confidence on the island," he noted.

The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar tweeted: "My congratulations to both leaders on achieving mobile phone interoperability across #Cyprus today: a step forward to facilitate better communication & help bring Cypriots closer. Join me & connect with each other."

Making calls across the divide for Turkish Cypriot subscribers will cost between ?4 and ?4.12 per minute for calls, depending on whether you use KKTCELL or Telsim Vodafone.

Receiving calls and SMS messaging will be a little cheaper. While incoming calls will cost between ?2.5 and ?1.53, SMS messaging will cost ?1.5 and ?0.50 depending again on which service provider you use.

Users need to activate the roaming service before entering the government-controlled area of Cyprus. GSM operators advise their customers to deactivate the service upon returning to the occupied area of Cyprus to avoid unnecessary charges. Subscribers will need to send SMS messages to activate and deactivate the service.

[03] How the Press covers the interoperability of mobile phones across the island

The Turkish Cypriot Press gives extensive coverage today (12.07.19) to the interoperability of the mobile phones across the island implemented as of yesterday, within the framework of the Confidence Building Measures (CBM) agreed between President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci.

K?br?s covers the issue under the title "It is now possible to talk with a mobile phone all over the island" and notes that due to technical problems, both GSM operators in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus could not offer the internet service to their clients. Their aim is reportedly to complete the necessary works for being able to offer this service within two months.

Halk?n Sesi refers to the issue under the banner front-page title "Happy end in the unification in the cell phones". In its inside pages, the paper notes that "there is a great difference in the roaming" between the occupied area and the government-controlled area of the island and that the Turkish Cypriots will pay double roaming prices comparing to the Greek Cypriots. The paper compares the prices of KKTCELL and CYTA in the following table:

Use                                                  KKTCELL CYTA   Difference
Government-controlled area, occupied area and Turkey 4,00 TL 1,86 TL 116%
Oversea calls                                       13,00 TL 5,44 TL 139%
All incoming calls                                   2,50 TL 1,60 TL 56%
SMS                                                  1,50 TL 0,22 TL 570%

Under the title "Like two countries", Afrika writes that the conversations will be priced based on international roaming costs and that there will be a "serious difference" in the roaming prices between the government-controlled area and the occupied area of the island. "The tax percentage on the bills in the south is 19%, while in the north 62%", notes the paper.

Under the title "'ALO' without barricades", Yeni Duzen reports that the charge for calling from Europe to Nicosia is 0,30 TL per minute, from Nicosia to Nicosia 4 TL and from Nicosia to Ankara "domestic charge". According to the paper, the charge of CYTA for calling to the occupied area of Cyprus will be ? 0,29.

In his commentary on the issue under the title "Turkey is 'domestic', Cyprus 'overseas'", Cenk Mutluyakali, the director of the paper, reports that "an important barricade was lifted", but notes that this development was not the ideal one, "because we were united like 'two foreigners' based on a 'divided' understanding". "We should be able to see this", he says adding that "we have experienced 'mobile phone unification' like an African country and a European country" and not even like "two countries" inside the EU. He notes also the following:

"[?] Yes, a very important vital step was taken and I see this. However, while I am glad, I am not 'blind' and I am rioting to the following: I experienced a mobile phones unification in which Turkey is accepted as 'domestic' and Cyprus as 'overseas'. We were divided again while we were uniting. This was not enough, we were also exploited!

The 'roaming' cost in the European Union has been lifted [?] We have a European passport in our pocket, but again we remained outside Europe! [?]"

Other titles:

Havadis: The island was united on the mobile phone line

Vatan: Mobile phones are okay!

K?br?s Postas?: "ALO Nikos!The phone started having a signal at last"

(I/Ts.)

[04] Aksoy's statement on the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean

According to illegal Bayrak television (12. 07. 19 12:03-http://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=aksoy-issues-statement-on-east-med), the Spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Hami Aksoy in a written statement on Turkey's continental shelf responded to claims that Turkey had lost the sovereignty of some of its islands and 92 km? of its continental shelf, in a letter presented to the UN.

Aksoy said that these claims were baseless and did not reflect the truth.

Aksoy "reiterated Turkey's determination to protect its legitimate rights and interests on its continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean stemming from international law".

He reminded that "the borders of Turkey's continental shelf had been documented with the UN since 2004 and there was no change in Turkey's policy".

[05] Turkish Ambassador claims that the EU has already damaged its relations with Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots

According to illegal Bayrak television (12.07.19, http://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=drilling-in-east-med-3), Turkey's Deputy Foreign Minister and Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Fuat Kaymakc? stated that the European Union was attempting to introduce sanctions against Turkey for its drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. "The European Union had already damaged its relations with Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots on the island" he added.

Speaking during an event he attended, Kaymakc? expressed the need for creating a positive agenda despite the EU's attitude. "Since 2011-2012 we have been saying that we can change this energy issue from conflict to cooperation. That's why, on numerous occasions, we and the Turkish Cypriot side, which is a joint partner on the island, proposed for the establishment of a joint committee to determine energy revenues in the future", he claimed.

Kaymakc? also argued that they had confidence in Finland's EU term presidency for finding creative ways to change conflict areas into areas of consensus.

[06] Professor Dr Vural says that the "Monaco model" cannot be implemented in Cyprus

Turkish Cypriot daily Haberci (12.07.19) reports that Professor Dr Yucel Vural at the Political Science and International Relations Faculty of the "Eastern Mediterranean University" ("DAU"), commenting to the paper on the "Monaco model" which has come recently again into the agenda, said that it is impossible this model to be implemented in Cyprus.

Prof. Vural explained that every step Turkey takes through the "TRNC", as it does now, in the international arena, is described as an attack on the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus. He added that the most important difference that separates Monaco from the "TRNC" is that Monaco is an international recognized state, its sovereignty is not a subject of discussion, it is accepted as a member of the community of sovereign states and finally Monaco was founded on a country that there was no disagreement.

Noting that France and Monaco cooperate as two sovereign states, Dr Vural explained that Monaco has established special relations with France as a small but sovereign country that is completely within the borders of France and has a coast. The Monaco model, he further explains, is a relationship model in which the small state gains protection through a series of agreements between the two sovereign states. "France has guaranteed the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of Monaco. France also assured that it would not annex Monaco", Prof. Vural said, adding that Monaco is represented in the UN and various international organizations as an independent state.

Stressing that it is not possible to create a similar model of relations between Turkey and "North Cyprus" as it is between France and Monaco, Dr Vural explained that the Cyprus Constitution and the Treaty of Guarantees prohibits such a relationship. He further said that in November 1983, the United Nations Security Council decided to prevent TRNC's recognition and prohibited all member states from recognizing the "TRNC".

Prof. Dr Vural also said: "The TRNC is an unrecognized state before the UN and the territorial area where the TRNC demands sovereignty is defined by the UN Security Council as a territorial area of the Republic of Cyprus", adding that the Republic of Cyprus, which is a member of the EU and the UN, is the only recognized single state in Cyprus.

"If the establishment of relationship like Monaco model between Turkey and the TRNC comes into agenda, it would be considered by the world as step by Turkey to increase its political and military control on the TRNC", Dr Vural noted, adding that if such agreement would be signed between Turkey and the "TRNC", then in the international arena "TRNC" would be considered as a subordinate administration of Turkey.

(DPs)

[07] Committee for the inventory study in occupied fenced-off Varosha holds its first meeting

Turkish Cypriot newspaper K?br?s Postas? (12.07.19, http://www.kibrispostasi.com/c35-KIBRISHABERLERI/n290988-maras-ile-ilgili-envanter-calismasi-yapacak-olan-komisyonun) reports that Kudret Ozersay, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that the committee which will carry out the inventory study announced by the occupation regime's "government" for the occupied fenced-off city of Varosha held its first meeting today. In a post on his social media account, Ozersay announced that other persons would be added to this team. "I think that next week will be very intense and that afterwards we will pass to the point of working on the ground", he noted.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot newspaper K?br?s (12.07.19) reports that Ezcan Ozsoy, chairman of the so-called foundation for the protection of the environment and cultural heritage, has stated that his organization wanted to participate in the inventory study announced by the occupation regime's "government" for the occupied fenced-off city of Varosha.

In statements during a visit to the paper, Ozsoy said that the foundation had unmanned air vehicles (drones), which could take three dimensional pictures and at the same time project these recordings.

He noted that they had conveyed to "prime minister" Tatar their wish and ability to support the said inventory study and added that the foundation had been active since 1990 and the participation of foreigners in its administration was "legitimated" in 2016.

(I/Ts.)

[08] TCG submarine to be open for public visit in occupied Keryneia

According to illegal Bayrak television (12.07.19-http://www.brtk.net/denizalti-ziyarete-aciliyor/), the so-called Turkish Cypriot Security Forces ("GKK") announced that the TCG Dolunay submarine will be openfor public visit in the port of occupied Keryneia from tomorrow until the 16th of July.

(AK)

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[B] Turkish Press

[01] S-400 delivery process has started, Turkey says

Turkish daily Sabah (12.07.2019-https://www.dailysabah.com/defense/2019/07/12/s-400-delivery-process-has-started-turkey-says) reports that Turkey's Defense Ministry said on Friday that the delivery process of Russian-made surface-to-air S-400 missile defense systems to Turkey has begun.

"The first batch of S-400 parts started arriving on Friday at Murted Air Base, formerly called the Ak?nc? Air Base, near capital Ankara", the Ministry said in a statement.

Ankara and Moscow inked a deal for the S-400s on April 11, 2017, when the parties signed a $2.5 billion agreement for two batteries of the systems ? Russia's most advanced long-range anti-aircraft missile system in use since 2007.

The United States has repeatedly warned Turkey it will face economic sanctions if it goes ahead with the purchase. It has also said Turkey would not be allowed to participate in the program to produce the high-tech F-35 fighter jets.

Turkey has refused to bow to U.S. pressure, insisting that choosing which equipment to purchase is a matter of national sovereignty.

[02] Celik comments on EU threats of restrictive measures on Turkey over Eastern Mediterranean drilling; Turkey threats to suspend migration deal with the EU

Turkish daily Sabah (12.07-19https://www.dailysabah.com/energy/2019/07/12/eu-threats-of-restrictive-measures-on-turkey-over-east-med-drilling-could-prove-shortsighted) reports that the Spokesman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Omer Celik commenting on the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, said that "It is time to build bridges instead of walls"

In a press conference held after the Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) meeting in Ankara yesterday, Celik said that "as long as the Greek Cypriot side doesn't grant the Turkish Cypriots their rights, the Yavuz and Fatih drillships will continue their activities", while also criticizing the EU stance on the issue.

"?The European authorities should find a common solution where the rights of both parties are protected," he said. "The European Union is opting for stirring up trouble. The European Union should act on the basis of principles", Celik further added.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Milliyet (12.07.19) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, evaluating yesterday during the parliamentary group meeting of the AKP party several internal issues as well as the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, said that it would be a "historical mistake" any attempts taken by the EU against Turkey's drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. In a statement issued after the meeting, it is pointed out that the crisis could be overcome only if the Greek Cypriots sit to the table with the "TRNC" as equal partners.

The paper further adds that Turkey has already made its plans in order to confront EU threats. According to diplomatic sources, if the EU continues its stance, Turkey will suspend the agreement signed between Turkey and the EU on migration.

(AK)

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(AK/AM)

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