Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 19-08-01

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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: "TRNC model and the Turkish guarantees to continue"

[02] Self-styled minister of tourism claims that tourists who visit the occupied area of Cyprus are under Greek Cypriots' threats

[03] "Registered" number of vehicles in the breakaway regime

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Donmez argues that Turkey always has alternatives

[02] Retired Turkish admiral claims that Cyprus does not have a right to licence its block 7

[03] Turkish pilots to leave US after Turkey's removal from F-35 program

[04] Turkey and Iraq to set up water resources center

[05] Turkey's Demiroren Media reportedly to be sold to Turkuvaz-Azerbaijani partnership

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[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Tatar: "TRNC model and the Turkish guarantees to continue"

Under the title" "Proactive policy", Gunes (01.08.09) reports that speaking to the Ankara Anatolia news agency the self-styled minister Ersin Tatar stated that their model is the continuation of the "TRNC" and of Turkish guarantees in Cyprus. He also stated that they are impelemnting "proactive policy" playing the Varosha card and the card of activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Referring to Varosha, he stated that the developments as regards the fenced-off city are related to the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and accused the Greek Cypriots of activing unilaterally and of not respecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. "By playing the Varosha card and the card of activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, we are developing our policy. The TRNC will be strengthened even more", he claimed.

He also criticized the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mistotakis who stated that the guarantees must be buried in history. "They want Turkey to abandon everything and leave. […] This is not going to happen. […]", he stated.

Refering to the determination of Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean he stated makes them happy and claimed that some experts found maps regarding Turkey's and the breakaway regime's continental shelf. "Our activities are done based on the law of the sea", he alleged.

(CS)

[02] Self-styled minister of tourism claims that tourists who visit the occupied area of Cyprus are under Greek Cypriots' threats

Turkish Cypriot daily Star K?br?s (01.08.19) reports that the so-called minister of tourism Unal Ustel claimed that the tourists who cross the barricades to visit the occupied areas of Cyprus are facing the threats of the Greek Cypriots and as a result they decide not to visit the island again.

In statements to Ankara Anatolia news agency, he referred to the expectations of his "ministry" to increase the number of tourists who visit the breakaway regime from Turkey and third countries.

He said that the breakaway regime is presented only by Turkey in an effective way and noted the importance of his visit to Turkey and the meetings with Turkish officials. "Our only lifeline is our Motherland Turkey", he stated. He said that one of the problems they face is the increase of ticket prices which makes tourists fly to the occupied area of Cyprus by taking a plane to Turkey, which according to him is a waste of time.

He went to add that 80% of the tourists visiting the breakaway regime come from Turkey and added that they will be able to overcome the problems they face in tourism with Turkey's help.

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (01.08.19) reports that a "Meeting for tourism and co-operation took place in Turkey" with the participation of Ustel and of "prime minister" Tatar as regards ways for co-operation between the two "sides" aiming to increase the number of touristst in the breakaway regime. In the meeting, it was said that the flights between "Alexadretta-Tympu" will start as of August 8 were mentioned.

[03] "Registered" number of vehicles in the breakaway regime

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (01.08.19) reports that there are 206.623 registered vehicles in the breakaway regime.

The paper, citing "official information" writes that 130,326 of these are saloon vehicle, 11,849 are vans. 9,320 motorcycles and the rest are other kinds of vehicles.

(CS)

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[B] Turkish Press

[01] Donmez argues that Turkey always has alternatives

Turkish daily Hurriyet (30.07.19, http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/tuz-yataginda-en-buyuk-depo-41287938) reports that Turkey's Energy Minister Fatih Donmez, speaking at the ceremony of the second phase of the Salt Lake Underground Storage Expansion Facility project, argued that one of the best responses to those "uttering sanctions threats" to Turkey in the east Mediterranean is this Salt Lake natural gas underground storage facility.

Donmez further said: "Turkey always has alternatives. The international legitimate rights of Turkey and the TRNC [Tr. Note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus] can never be matters of negotiation. Our door is open to those wanting to do business with us". He also argued that in this area, it is not possible for anything to be done, unless it has Turkey's approval.

[02] Retired Turkish admiral claims that Cyprus does not have a right to licence its block 7

Under the title "Hijacking", Turkish daily Yeni Safak (01.08.19, https://www.yenisafak.com/gundem/haydutluk-3500559), on its front page, alleges that the Greek Cypriots, who "disregard international law" in the Eastern Mediterranean, have decided to grant a licence for exploratory drillings in block 7 of Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which allegedly is within Turkey's continental shelf.

The paper further claims that retired Admiral Cem Gurdeniz argues that Turkey will protect its rights in the Mediterranean, adding that "even if France's fleet accompanies Total, our determination will not change".

[03] Turkish pilots to leave US after Turkey's removal from F-35 program

According to Turkish news portal Turkish Minute (31.07.19, https://www.turkishminute.com/2019/07/31/turkish-pilots-to-leave-us-after-turkeys-removal-from-f-35-program/), Turkish pilots who have been training to operate F-35 stealth jets in the US will return home on Thursday after the US expelled Turkey from the F-35 program over Turkey's purchase of a Russian-made S-400 missile defence system, the T24 news website reported.

A total of 43 personnel, six of whom were pilots, were undergoing training at Luke and Eglin airbases. The program was scheduled to continue until the end of 2020 and have ultimately trained 13 pilots along with more than 300 other staff. (…)

[04] Turkey and Iraq to set up water resources center

According to Turkey's state news agency Anadolu (31.07.19, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkey-iraq-to-set-up-water-resources-center/1546367), Turkey and Iraq have agreed to establish a water resources center in Baghdad to study and address water issues in the region.

Addressing a press conference in Iraqi capital Baghdad, Turkish Presidency's Special Representative to Iraq Veysel Eroglu announced that both countries have drafted an action plan to address water issues. "We have prepared a great working and action plan, regarding the water issue," Eroglu said, after holding talks with Iraqi Water Resources Minister Jamal Adili. He added that Turkey favoured development of its neighbour Iraq. (…)

Maintaining that he held fruitful talks with Iraqi officials on the water issues, Eroglu who is also Turkey's water affairs minister, said both countries will expand their area of cooperation, beyond water issues. "We will hold joint works on a variety of topics. Iraq has great potential," he added.

The Minister said both countries would soon discuss the construction of a rail network, starting from northern Iraq to southern Basra province, and a land route as well, in the same region. "Thus, we will connect Turkey to Gulf countries through Iraq," he said. (…)

[05] Turkey's Demiroren Media reportedly to be sold to Turkuvaz-Azerbaijani partnership

According to Turkish news portal Turkish Minute (31.07.19, https://www.turkishminute.com/2019/07/31/turkeys-demiroren-media-to-be-sold-to-turkuvaz-azerbaijani-partnership-report/), a partnership between pro-Turkish-government media group Turkuvaz and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) will purchase the Demiroren Media Group, according to a report on the medyaradar news website.

The purchase is being managed by Turkuvaz Media Group Deputy Chairman Serhat Albayrak, the brother of Berat Albayrak, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's son-in-law and Turkey's Finance Minister.

The Dogan Media Group, which was Turkey's largest media company, was sold to the Demiroren Group in 2018 for $675 million. There are reports that Demiroren has suffered financial losses due to the declining circulation and popularity of the former Dogan newspapers and TV stations.

Dogan had sold Milliyet and Vatan dailies, which have a strongly pro-government editorial policy, to Demiroren in 2001.

With the last sale, Demiroren assumed the ownership of a number of media outlets including Kanal D, CNN Turk, Tv2, Dream TV, Dream Turk, Hurriyet, Posta, Fanatik, the Hurriyet Daily News, TME, Dogan Burda Dergi, Dogan Egmont, Dogan Kitap and Dergi Pazarlama ve Planlama (DPP).

If the Turkuvaz Media Group assumes ownership of the Demiroren media outlets, it will have established a media monopoly in Turkey. (…)

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(DPs/EH)

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