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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 19-11-01Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review-01.11.19 No. 728 Content[A] Turkish Cypriot Press
[B] Turkish Press
[A] Turkish Cypriot Press[01] Ozersay: "Government" agrees there are no conditions for a federal Cyprus solutionTurkish Cypriot illegal Bayrak in Turkish (31.10.19, https://www.brtk.net/ozersayhukumette-kibris-konusunda-fikir-birligi-var/) broadcasts that Kudret Ozersay, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that because of the agreement within the "government", they could "easily and strongly" advocate that "a change of paradigm is needed" today in the Cyprus problem. He further argued that "this is inevitable" and that "the necessary conditions and requirements for a federal partnership do not exist".Addressing a meeting of the "council of ministers" with the "people' in occupied Keryneia yesterday, Ozersay argued that power in foreign policy passed through "harmony within the government" and added that there had been no common policy on the Cyprus problem during the previous "four-party coalition government". Ozersay claimed that a "different new vision and paradigm" in the Cyprus problem should be supported by a more active diplomacy in a manner by which the Turkish Cypriot side's voice was heart internationally. He argued that this could not happen only by holding negotiations and that the voice of the Turkish Cypriots should be heard in all international platforms in a way that "it is understood by the world". He added the following: "In this way we can promote the government's policy. Both in the Cyprus problem and the natural gas issue as well as in the vision we have exhibited regarding the opening of closed Varosha, a change of paradigm is in question and this attracts attention. The various players of the international community feel the need to turn and have a look". Ozersay further said that the "good and healthy relations" with Turkey were among the "government's" priorities. Noting that Turkey was their "strategic partner" for years, he expressed the view that a stance which causes tension and polarization in society on this issue was not a "healthy approach". He claimed that they could have a relation with Turkey within which they could "stand erect" without quarrelling and being offended. (I/Ts.) [02] Ozersay says no joint work or meeting was held with Akinci for the Berlin summitTurkish Cypriot newspaper Haberci (01.11.19) reports that Kudret Ozersay, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has said that until now they had not worked jointly and held no meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci as regards the tripartite summit to be held on 25 November in Berlin, between the two community leaders and the UNSG Antonio Guterres. In an exclusive interview with a team of Haberci journalists, Ozersay referred also to the report sent by Akinci to the UNSG and said that he had not seen the report yet.Asked to comment on the meeting in Berlin and to say whether this was an informal one, Ozersay argued that perhaps what they attempted to say with the word "informal" was that an informal five-party conference could be held. He claimed: "If there is a wish and an informal form, this will help in a different model which will be discussed outside federation. In diplomacy and negotiations, if you do not want a document to become your position, but you want to take the pulse of the other side, you can call this a non-paper, an informal paper or an informal meeting". Referring to the issue of the occupied fenced-off city of Varosha, Ozersay said that they tried to explain their policy during their recent visit to New York. He reiterated the view that the fact that the city remained closed violated human rights and added that they back the decision regarding the return of the occupied fenced-off city to its "former inhabitants" and held consultations on this basis. According to Ozersay, the self-styled electricity authority was working as regards the electric lines in the fenced-off city. He said that their steps regarding Varosha continued. Referring to the relations of the Turkish Cypriots with Turkey, he underlined the importance of dialogue arguing that this was an important issue. "The skill is to fight, but to be able to direct Turkey's Cyprus policy and serve the country within the framework of common interests", he argued. (I/Ts.) [03] Tatar: "Coalition government backs a two-state solution in Cyprus"Turkish Cypriot daily Günes (01.11.19) reports that so-called prime minister Ersin Tatar stated that the "coalition government of the National Unity Party-People's Party" is in favour of a two-state solution in Cyprus, contrary to the stance of Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci who supports that there is no other choice than an agreed solution based on a federation.Speaking yesterday during a meeting of the "members of the council of ministers" with the "people" in occupied Keryneia, Tatar said that his "coalition partner in the government and foreign minister" Kudret Ozersay, experienced some difficulties with his previous "coalition partners in the four party-coalition government". According to Tatar, Ozersay had different positions on these issues, but today, Tatar said, Ozersay can express his positions openly on issues related with the two-state solution, the "opening of Maras" and the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. Meanwhile, according to illegal Bayrak television
(31.10.19-https://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=tatar-evaluates-1st-year),
so-called prime minister Tatar, issuing a message on the occasion of
completing one year since undertaking the National Unity Party (UBP)
leadership, alleged that "each of his efforts aims to ensure that the
Turkish Cypriot people will happily move forward in prosperity and
security in the future".
"We have made a serious assessment of the situation for the first time
and turned it into a party decision that a two-state solution for Cyprus
should come to the agenda and have included it in the government program",
Tatar claimed.
Referring to the so-called presidential elections, Tatar expressed the
belief that they will "emerge victorious in accordance with the public's
expectations".
"When the time comes, our party assembly will pay heed to what the people
and the party's grassroots want and will take the necessary decisions. We
will act in accordance with these decisions," Tatar added.
In a written statement issued today, Denktas said that the target of the
tripartite meeting was to "go beyond" the agreements achieved until today,
make progress on the issues on which agreement had not been reached and
create the conditions for a possible five-party conference. "In brief,
it is again an experiment of what was attempted in the past", he claimed
adding that he did not hope or observe that the Greek Cypriot demands
would change in Berlin. He argued that we should accept that the process
which had been going on with interruptions since 1968 gave no results and
"both sides should be open to new ideas and work on new models".
Expressing the view that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci had not
the luxury to reject participating in a meeting that will be held with
the participation of the UNSG, Denktas argued that Akinci should explain
that the process should not aim at forming the terms of reference and
should not be a continuation of the Crans Montana Conference. "Crans
Montana and similar processes have wasted a lot of time for the Turkish
Cypriots", he claimed.
"The problem is not in the federal model, but in the structure of thought
which the Greek Cypriot leadership represents", he alleged and reiterated
the Turkish view that the Greek Cypriots were not able to see the Turkish
Cypriots as equals, to share power with them and see them as co-owners
of the island.
Arguing that the Turkish Cypriots should demand from the EU, the UN and
the international community to force the Greek Cypriot leadership to take
steps "which will bring it to a solution oriented thought structure",
Denktas expressed the view that we should discuss what could be done for
"a step by step, piece by piece solution". "It is time to turn a new
page", he alleged.
(I/Ts.)
Commenting on the upcoming tripartite meeting in Berlin, at Turkish
Cypriot private channel Kibris Postasi TV, Sorakin said that that UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is more effective than the former
UNSG Ban Ki-moon. He added that it is not known whether a decision for a
five-party meeting will come out of the tripartite meeting. Noting that
although they try to form the terms of reference, Sorakin argued that
they have been determined already. He further explained that the joint
declaration of 11 February 2014 and the June 30 Guterres framework are
the documents to constitute the pre-conditions of the terms of reference.
Evaluating the position of the "coalition government" on the Cyprus
issue, Sorakin reminded that no other system has been discussed than
the federal system and added: "The two-state solution under the EU's
umbrella stands as an alternative option, but it is unrealistic. The
negotiation process has been going on for 50 years and no other system
outside the federal system has been discussed. All the documents in the
past envisage a federation to be established on the federal ground".
Noting that the problems in the Eastern Mediterranean are part of
the Cyprus issue, Sorakin said that there is serious [natural gas]
reserve in the Eastern Mediterranean, adding that the problems
in the Eastern Mediterranean can be solved through a comprehensive
solution. "However, Turkey cannot be left of the energy equation in the
Eastern Mediterranean", he stressed.
(DPs)
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, the chairman of the Turkish
Affairs Committee at the National Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, and Turkey's
Permanent Representative at the UN, Feridun Sinirlioglu, were also
present at the meeting which lasted for an hour. The meeting was closed
to the press.
(AK)
"Under no circumstances, we are not in favor or support an aggressive
stance; we are in favor of good-neighborhood ties. We have said that by
all means we will never allow Turkey's or our Turkish Cypriot brothers'
rights to be harmed and we will continue to say this", Akar said.
Stating that they continue with their activities in the Aegean, the
Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus, Akar added the following: "We will
continue intensively our activities, day and night in order to protect our
rights and interests especially in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are by no
means in favour of an aggressive stance, we back good-neighborhood ties
and we respect international law and bilateral agreements. But, we have
said before and we will continue to say that we will not allow the other
side to harm either Turkey's rights or the rights of our Turkish Cypriot
brothers. We are determined on this. This is not a threat, nor a weakness
when we say that we respect international agreements and international
law. Our interlocutors should understand this well", Akar further said.
(AK)
Speaking to "Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK", Kucuk said that the remains
of another 24 persons have been located since the beginning of 2019,
and after their identification, it would be clear whether the remains
are belong to missing persons.
Noting that "permission was granted by the Turkish side for excavations
on 30 different locations and 33 coordinates within military areas,
in June, 2019", Kucuk added that a new permit has been granted for
a site in Deryneia close to the area where previous excavations took
place. Explaining that this was not the first time the CMP was conducting
work in fenced-off military areas, she further said: "Cooperation with
the Turkish military authorities is good and the military officials are
always helpful to the CMP's works".
Stressing that the Committee is racing against time, Kucuk explained
that the landscape is constantly changing, new buildings are constructed
everywhere, roads are being built and these are some of the difficulties
they face.
Kucuk concluded by saying that they may not be able to find everyone,
but we need at least to reach a point where we can provide everyone
with information.
(DPs)
(DPs)
Meanwhile, the paper reports that the funerals of the two pilots who had
lost their lives in the accident were held yesterday. Serkan Ozcezarli was
buried in occupied Trahoni village and Hakan Cetinkaya in his hometown,
Afyonkarahisar in Turkey.
(I/Ts.)
"Turkey was left alone at nearly every step taken during the Syrian
crisis," Erdogan said at a gathering in Istanbul.
Erdogan stressed those who did nothing except erecting barbed wires for
Syrian refugees in the last eight years, continue blocking efforts to ease
"homesickness" of the refugees.
He reiterated that Turkey's expenditure on refugees for period of over
8.5 years has exceeded $40 billion, while support from the EU through
NGOs was 3 billion ($3.3 billion) only.
(
)"We did not provide all these services with any expectation, but as
our human and moral responsibilities," he added.
Erdogan went on to say that unsolicited "advice" was the only support
which Turkey received from the international community. "The mentality
which considers a drop of oil more valuable than a drop of blood sees
nothing but its own interest in Syria and around the world. When we look
around, we see only humans, souls and life," he said, adding that this
is what differentiates Turkey from others.
He also noted that the average life expectancy in Syria, which has
suffered major devastations, has declined from 73 to 63.
Turkish authorities voiced their strong criticism to Charles Fries over
the move by the French Senate and National Assembly on Operation Peace
Spring, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions
on talking to the media.
France's Parliament on Wednesday approved unanimously a resolution
condemning the operation which was launched on Oct. 9 to eliminate the
terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order
to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees,
and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.
The resolution, prompting an immediate end to the operation in northern
Syria "reiterated France's unwavering support for the YPG operating
under the name of SDF."
Earlier on Thursday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry slammed in a written
statement the decision, adding that: "We strongly condemn and reject
decisions by the French Senate and National Assembly about Operation
Peace Spring."
"It is obvious that France took this decision after its plan to establish
a terrorist state in Syria failed," it said, adding that the French
government and parliament had shown that they were on the side of the
terrorists.
Ankara has condemned the U.S. resolution titled "Affirming the United
States Record on the Armenian Genocide" that was passed by the House of
Representatives on Tuesday, arguing that this decision was taken as a
reprisal against Turkey's Operation Peace Spring and labeling the move as
"worthless."
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the U.S. House of
Representatives for adopting a controversial resolution on 1915 events,
as he slammed European countries for providing protection for PKK-linked
groups to carry out their terrorist activities.
"Unfortunately, our relations that we have maintained at the level of
strategic partnership have been suspended. Today, with the instructions
we give our foreign ministers, we will convene our strategic cooperation
council as soon as possible," Erdogan told reporters at the Presidential
Palace in Ankara on October 31.
"The joint energy and transportation projects that we have fulfilled
together with our brother Azerbaijan have enabled us to create a zone
of stability from the Caucasus to Anatolia," Erdogan said, referring
to natural gas and railway projects completed by Turkey, Georgia and
Azerbaijan.
Erdogan went on to say that the two leaders confirmed their willingness
to increase their trade volume from $1.5 billion as of the end of 2018
to $3 billion.
Erdogan said further that 2,200 Georgian soldiers received military
education within the framework of ongoing military exercises between
the two countries."Our efforts to maintain peace and stability in our
common sea, the Black Sea, continue with the contributions of Georgia. In
addition to our military contacts, we hope to establish tighter relations
between our defense industry companies," he added.
Georgian Prime Minister Georgi Gakharia said for his part that Tbilisi is
committed to further develop the existing strategic partnership. Stressing
that Georgia attaches importance to cooperation on the energy corridor
between the two countries, Gakharia said: "Turkey is a way to Europe
for Georgia."
Gakharia said at the end of the meeting that he would officially invite
Erdogan to Georgia in the near future.
Demirtas was arrested in November 2016 and has been held since then on
various charges related to his alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK), an armed group that has fought the Turkish state
for Kurdish self-rule for decades.
An Ankara court on Sept. 2 ruled the conditional release of the top
pro-Kurdish politician over charges of insulting the President, as the
trial continues in the main case against him, in which prosecutors are
seeking a sentence of up to 142 years.
Istanbul 26th Heavy Penal Court on Thursday ruled for the release of
Demirtas in a case that he was sentenced to four years and eight months
in prison based on a judicial reform package unveiled earlier this month
that allows the release of convicts who are charged for less than five
years imprisonment, Cumhuriyet said.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) last year ordered the immediate
release of Demirtas, stating that his further confinement without any
new evidence would amount to continued violations of Article 46 of the
European Convention on Human Rights.
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(AK/ EH)
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