C
O N T E N T S
No.
150/16
09.08.2016
1.
Akinci: The Turkish Cypriots see no other alternative than Turkey providing
their security
2.
Turkey’s MFA will pay an illegal visit to the occupied area of
Cyprus
3.
The Cyprus problem is expected to be discussed between Putin and Erdogan
4.
The “immovable property commission” cannot be an effective remedy due to
financial problems
5.
Volkan paper claims that FETO transferred money through Cyprus to African
countries
6.
“Who are the buddies of Bulent Arinc here!”
7.
German former MEP of Turkish origin is appointed as head of the anti-Gulen
operations in the occupied area of Cyprus
8.
Erdogan and Putin talks are expected to boost trade
relations
9.
“GAU rector” Akpinar said that they are planning to establish an
airline
1.
Akinci: The Turkish Cypriots see no other alternative than Turkey providing
their security
Turkish
Cypriot daily Detay newspaper (09.08.16) reports that Turkish Cypriot
leader Mustafa Akinci has said that political equality, freedom and security
are the three minimum fundamental elements to be ensured for the Turkish
Cypriots while building the future of Cyprus. Addressing a ceremony in
occupied Kokkina village yesterday, Akinci argued that the Turkish Cypriots
want to live in security, freely and as an equal community in their own area,
adding that the Turkish Cypriot “people” see no other alternative than Turkey
providing their security.
Akinci
noted that in case the ongoing negotiations result positively, the Turkish
Cypriots will have their own police, parliament, government and coastguard. “In
parallel to this, as the community fewer in number we want, of course, the
continuation of Turkey’s guarantees”, he said alleging that this is a wish of
the Turkish Cypriot “people”.
Referring
to the Kokkina incidents, Akinci alleged that the Turkish Cypriots exhibited a
very serious resistance example and if there was not for Turkey’s help, the
result could have been much worse. “If I said that we are continuing today the
same quest as the struggle and the quest of those days, it would not be wrong”,
he claimed and added: “Our most important duty is to take lessons from the past
and build the future. The most important point for not repeating the past is
taking lessons from what happened in the past. If we do not take lessons, the
same things may be repeated. […] The Turkish Cypriot people see no other
alternative than Turkey providing their security.”
Noting
that they are also facing internal problems, Akinci expressed the view that it
would be a mistake to leave the solution of these problems to the period after
the solution of the Cyprus problem. He noted that problems will continue to
exist after the solution of the Cyprus problem, but the difficulties deriving
from the fact that they are outside the international law for 53 years and the
non-recognition of the “TRNC” will be solved with their participation in the
international community.
(I/Ts.)
2.
Turkey’s MFA will pay an illegal visit to the occupied area of
Cyprus
According
to Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (09.08.16), Turkey’s Minister of Foreign
Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu will pay an illegal visit to the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus on Friday.
It
is reported that Cavusoglu will carry out high level contacts during his visit.
(DPs)
3.
The Cyprus problem is expected to be discussed between Putin and
Erdogan
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (09.08.16) reports that Russian
President Putin and Turkish President Erdogan are expected to discuss issues
regarding the energy in the Eastern Mediterranean and that the Cyprus problem
will be one of the topics of their discussion during their meeting today in
Saint Petersburg. Turkish Cypriot academician Muhuttin Tolga Ozsaglam
told the paper that “Turkey might be directed towards a multidirectional
external policy” and that the deepening of its cooperation with Russia in
the energy field will bring onto the agenda Russia’s indispensable participation
in the projects in Cyprus and its surrounding area.
He
also expressed the following view: “Russia, which is a member of the
UNSC, supports a Cypriot solution and rejects an imposed NATO solution. In
this sense, it is not correct to expect Russia to say ‘yes’ to a solution plan
which will be formed with pressure by the Euro-Atlantic community. Therefore,
Russia and Turkey may meet at the same point”.
Ozsaglam
further argued that we should not be surprised if the security issues come
forward in parallel to the energy issues and the two countries’
cooperation is increased on the security issues.
(I/Ts.)
4.
The “immovable property commission” cannot be an effective remedy due to
financial problems
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (09.08.16), in its front page under the title
“Nor money nor applications”, reports that the “immovable property commission”
is looking for the old days when there were queues in its door due to many
applications. But now the Greek Cypriots do not apply to the “commission” as
they used to do and neither the “commission” can take any decision. The
financing from Turkey is limited and now the “commission” has come to a point
that it cannot be effective.
According
to the paper, the “commission”, which was set up in 2006, has come to an end due
to various reasons. Although, the “commission” is still in “the line of duty”,
does not have the financial resources.
The
applications by the Greek Cypriots to the “Commission” have dropped
significantly. While in 2011, 1,926 Greek Cypriots applied to the “commission”,
the number fell to 182 in 2015. The first 7 months in 2016, there were only 31
applications.
As
of 2016, the “commission” has paid GBP 227,162,314 to the applicants as
compensation.
The
paper reports that in 2015 the 255 applications from the 312 were adjourned sine
die by the “commission”. The “commission” said that the reasons of the
indefinite postponement were the financial problems.
(DPs)
5.
Volkan paper claims that FETO transferred money through Cyprus to African
countries
Turkish
Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (09.08.16), in its front page under the title
“The properties of FETO in the TRNC”, claims that while the investigations
regarding the FETO (Gülenist Terror Organization) in Turkey continue, the
Finance Crime Committee (MASAK) in Turkey revealed that during the period
2010-2015 companies related to FETO transferred billions of dollars to accounts
in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
The
paper alleges that part of this money sent in the occupied area of Cyprus was
transferred to African countries like Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Kenya
through the government controlled areas of Cyprus. With this money, FETO
schools were built in these countries and huge investments were made especially
at the real sector.
The
paper further reports that with the money left behind in the occupied area of
Cyprus plots, apartments, houses, farms and fields were bought in the name of
different persons in various places in the “TRNC” (translator’s note: the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus). Meanwhile, some buildings that belong
to FETO in the occupied area of Keryneia are still under construction.
(DPs)
6.
“Who are the buddies of Bulent Arinc here!”
Under
the above title, columnist Levent Ozadam writes in Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris Postasi newspaper (09.08.16) that a “cyclone” seems to be
coming up after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s illegal visit to the
occupied area of Cyprus as regards the operations against Fethullah Gulen’s
organization.
Noting
that Bulent Arinc is a person served at important posts in the Justice and
Development Party (AKP), the columnist reports that Arinc received a serious
blow after the coup attempt of 15 July. “Serious accusations were made against
him and what is more these came from within his own party”, writes Ozadam
adding that after the coup Arinc stated that “you can call me foolish” in an
expression of regret for his relations with Gulen, but “he is already
branded”.
Noting
that now all eyes in Turkey are turned to Bulent Arinc and those who are
indirectly accused like him, while in the occupied area of Cyprus all eyes are
turned to persons who have close relations with Arinc.
He
adds the following: “Notifications from Ankara are being made on this issue!
Who are the politicians in the TRNC who have close relations with Arinc! Or what
kind of relation they have! Of course Bulent Arinc confessed, said he was
fooled in the night of 15 July and made his self-criticism, but… According to
rumors from Ankara again, there is a quiet environment now in the TRNC! We
have noted the statement made by Turkish ambassador Kanbay that ‘there may be
dismissals’. Because there will be dismissals! And these will be in
posts which you cannot predict. The only thing which is being done now is
sending reports to Ankara. When Ankara presses the button, the fears will be
materialized. Let the information as regards the institutions [at which this
will happen] stay with us for now! However, the politicians who are buddies
of Bulent Arinc here will always sit on pins and needles. The Turkish Minister
of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu will come to the island for few days! The
period to follow seems to us like a cyclone…”
(I/Ts.)
7.
German former MEP of Turkish origin is appointed as head of the anti-Gulen
operations in the occupied area of Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (09.08.16) reports that Ozan
Ceyhun, German former member of the European Parliament, has been
appointed by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Turkish so-called
embassy in the occupied part of Nicosia and is assigned with the duty of
“revealing Fetö organization and structure” in the occupied area of the
island. In the “Hero of the Day” column, Afrika writes the following: “Ozan
Ceyhun, who the Turkish Cypriots know very well, has returned among us again now
after being disappeared for a while. He has been assigned by the Turkish
Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a duty at the embassy in Nicosia. It is said
that his duty is to reveal Fetö organization and structure here. And to prepare
reports here and send them to Ankara. […]”
The
paper recalls that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) had accepted Ceyhun as its
“honorary member” and notes that plots of land had been allotted to him in
occupied Tymbou area, but afterwards this land was taken away from him. “Since
he is returning now to the island as an employee of the AKP, it means that he
has a lot of work to do”, concludes the paper.
(I/Ts.)
8.
Erdogan and Putin talks are expected to boost trade
relations
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (08.08.16), economic relations between Turkey
and Russia are expected to be on top of the agenda when Presidents Recep Tayyip
Erdogan and Vladimir Putin meet on Tuesday.
The
meeting in St. Petersburg marks the first meeting between the two leaders since
Russia and Turkey began normalizing relations following the downing of a Russian
jet in November last year.
Cooperation
in energy projects, tourism, food and industrial exports as well as new
investments are expected to be discussed during the talks, in addition to
efforts towards boosting trade volume.
Two
months prior to the jet crisis, the two countries had set a goal to increase
mutual trade volume to $100 billion by 2023.
The
trade increased nearly 18% between 2010 and 2014 to over $30 billion, according
to Turkish Statistical Institute.
Official
data from Turkish Statistical Institute and Russian Federal Statistics Service
Rossat showed that last year Russia was the second largest destination of
Turkish exports while it was the third largest source of imports to Turkey.
In
the first six months of 2016, Turkey’s exports to Russia dropped by 60.5% to
$737 million compared to the same period last year.
The
crisis also had a negative effect on tourism, after Moscow banned the sale of
package tours and charter flights to Turkey. Due to these restrictions,
Turkey lost $840 million in tourism revenue over the first half of the
year, as the number of Russian tourists travelling to Turkey dropped by
87% to around 184,000 compared to the same period last
year.
Energy
cooperation, and in particular the Turkish Stream pipeline project, and
Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant are other topics of critical importance expected to
be discussed at the meeting.
Announced
by Putin in Dec. 2014 during a visit to Ankara, the Turkish Stream pipeline
project plans to carry Russian gas via the Black Sea and Turkey to southeastern
Europe.
The
project was shelved following the crisis. Now with the normalization of
relations between the countries underway, the project is expected once more to
be an important topic for bilateral talks. On July 29, Russian Energy Minister
Aleksandr Novak said that talks with Turkey had resumed on the Turkish Stream
natural gas project.
The
meeting is also expected to help re-start Turkey's first nuclear power plant
project.
In 2010, Turkey signed agreements with Russia on the construction and operation
of nuclear power plants in Turkey.
Turkey’s
first nuclear power plant Akkuyu, in the province of Mersin at the southern
Mediterranean coast, was due to be carried out by Russia with a budget of $25
billion. It is under construction and will have a capacity of 4,800 megawatts
with four units.
9.
“GAU rector” Akpinar said that they are planning to establish an
airline
Turkish
Cypriot daily Demokrat Bakis newspaper (09.08.16) reports that Serhat Akpinar,
“founding rector and chancellor of board of administrators” of the illegal Girne
American University (“GAU”) and “chairman” of the “Cyprus Universities
Association” (“KUP”), said that they are planning to establish an
airline.
Speaking
in a television programme, Akpinar announced that they, as “KUP”, have a
project, which is promoted lately, to establish an airline. He added that this
project will obtain huge advantages for their students.
(DPs)
---------------------------------------------------
TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
