TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
149/16
06-08.08.2016
1.
Slogans in favour of Erdogan, the AKP and the death penalty were shouted at a
pro-Turkey rally in the occupied area of Cyprus
2.
Millions of people gathered for democracy rally in Turkey; Ozgurgun attended the
rally, but Akinci not
3.
Pro-AKP columnist criticizes the Turkish Cypriots over their stance on the coup
attempt in Turkey
4.
Akinci: There are circles in Cyprus that will reject even the best Cyprus
settlement
5.
AA alleges that “security and guarantees” are the most difficult issue in the
Cyprus negotiations
6.
Turkish Cypriot columnist: “Security and guarantees” are the easiest issue in
the Cyprus negotiations
7.
Siber: The Greek Cypriot side’s passive behaviour towards Turkish Cypriots’
attacks create worries
8.
Turkish high-rank police officer who served in the breakaway regime was arrested
for links with FETO
9.
Ozyigit: Turkish Cypriots are becoming poorer every single
day
10.
The GNP per capita was decreased in the occupied area of
Cyprus
11.
Economic relations and Syria will be the key topics at Erdogan-Putin
meeting
12.
Nine icons were discovered in a house in occupied
Famagusta
1.
Slogans in favour of Erdogan, the AKP and the death penalty were shouted at a
pro-Turkey rally in the occupied area of Cyprus
Under
the title “Strong support to Turkey”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris
newspaper (06.08.16) reported that the so-called “Platform for Supporting
Democracy” has organized a “Rally to Support Democracy” in the occupied part of
Nicosia, with the aim of condemning the coup attempt of 15 July in Turkey and
express support to the Turkish people.
Huseyin
Ozgurgun, self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and Tugrul Turkes, Turkish Deputy Prime
Minister responsible for Cypriot affairs addressed the rally, in which Prime
Minister Binali Yildirim also participated through a teleconference. Yildirim
thanked the Turkish Cypriots who attended the rally to express their “solidarity
and brotherly feelings” for Turkey.
The
paper writes that 132 organizations, “institutions”, “municipalities”,
“universities”, political parties, companies and associations expressed their
support to the rally
during which very strict security measures were taken. According to Kibris,
the participants in the rally varied from six to eight thousand persons.
They shouted slogans such as “Allah is great”, “Everything for the motherland”,
“Recep Tayyip Erdogan” and “The martyrs do not die, the country cannot be
divided”.
In
his address, Turkes wished for the negotiations in Cyprus to end in a positive
manner,
a solution to be reached and the inhabitants of “south Cyprus” to be able to
participate in such rallies, just like people from all over the occupied area of
the island came together on Friday. Turkes’ speech was interrupted by slogans
saying “we want death penalty”. Replying to the slogans, he said that those
who attempted the coup will be severely punished. After his address, Turkes read
out a message by President Erdogan.
Following
Turkes’ speech, Ozgurgun addressed the rally. During his address the slogan “The
prime minister is here, where is the president” was shouted.
Ozgurgun said that Turkey is defending its democracy today and the Turkish
Cypriots support Turkey which is always by their side. Noting that the whole
world sees and hears this support, Ozgurgun argued that the Turkish Cypriot
always want Turkey to be strong, because its strength gives power to the Turkish
Cypriots as well.
Under
the title “Slogans in favour of ‘AKP’, ‘Erdogan’ and the ‘death penalty’ at
the Saray Square”, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (06.08.16)
reported that in spite of the support of the National Unity Party, the
Democratic Party and the People’s Party and many other organizations and the
“warnings” of many “ministries”, “universities” and private companies the
participants in the rally were only around four thousand persons.
Under
the title “The rally of the greasers”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Afrika (06.08.16) reported that neither the full-page announcements in
the newspapers nor the pressure exerted on the “civil servants” or the threats
for dismissals from the “municipalities” or the buses which had been leased to
carry those who wished to participate in the rally or the doner kebab which was
distributed for free at the square were enough to make the Turkish
Cypriots participate in this rally.
(I/Ts.)
2.
Millions of people gathered for democracy rally in Turkey; Ozgurgun attended
the rally, but Akinci not
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 07.08.16), millions of
people (3.5-5) gathered on August 7 at a meeting venue in Istanbul’s Yenikapı
area for a massive joint democracy rally to protest the July 15 coup attempt,
putting an end to three weeks of demonstrations following the failed takeover.
The
rally was a rare event in which the leaders of three political parties took the
stage upon a call made by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leaving aside their
political differences.
The
event begin with Mehmet Görmez, the head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs
Directorate (Diyanet), reciting the Quran.
“That
night, I realized that I am a part of a very big nation,” said Orçun
Şekercioğlu, who came to the stage on a wheelchair. He was wounded by coup
soldiers on the Bosphorus Bridge as he was standing against tanks.
Prime
Minister Binali Yıldırım said that “Istanbul is great”, while addressing the
crowd.
“July
15 has opened a door of consensus for Turkey,” Republican People’s Party (CHP)
leader Kilicdaroglu said, while addressing the crowd. “There is a new Turkey
now,” Kilicdaroglu added. All political party leaders should learn lessons from
the coup attempt, he said. “That includes me.”
He
also read out a 12-article list similar to the one he read out at a democracy
rally in Istanbul on July 24, including an emphasis on the republic and
democracy, equality before the law, the importance of the parliamentary system,
the independence of law and an independent media.
“If
there wasn’t a republic, Erdoğan wouldn’t be the President. Yıldırım wouldn’t be
the Prime Minister. Kahraman wouldn’t be Parliamentary Speaker. I wouldn’t be
the leader of CHP,” he said.
Kılıçdaroğlu
also mentioned secularism in his speech, saying the failed takeover showed the
importance of it. “We need to contribute to the strengthening of democracy,” he
said, adding that an educational system based on questioning should be brought
into being.
“I
am happy because I can see the rise of Turkey,” Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
Devlet Bahceli said in his address to millions from all walks of life.
“July
15 is a milestone for Turkey,” he noted, praising the citizenry’s strong stance
against the coup soldiers at the cost of their lives.
Chief
of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar received a big round of applause when he took the
stage. Along with Akar, other members of the top brass who were taken hostage by
the coup plotters were present at the meeting. Akar reiterated that
U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen was responsible for the coup.
Erdogan
arrived in Yenikapı in a helicopter alongside with first lady Emine Erdogan.
President
Erdoğan started his speech by thanking the people who stood against the tanks
and planes used by the coup plotters during the failed takeover.
He
wished his condolences to the 240 people killed by putschists, of whom 172 were
civilians, 63 were police officers and five were soldiers. He also wished speedy
recovery to the 2,195 wounded.
During
Erdoğan’s speech the crowd repeatedly shouted that they wanted death penalty to
be reintroduced. “If the Parliament accepts the reintroduction of death penalty,
I will accept it,” he told the crowd, adding that the death penalty exists in
the U.S., Japan and “many other countries”.
“If
the people want death penalty, I think the political parties will also accept
it”, he also said, as he noted that the death penalty existed until 1984 in
Turkey.
Saying
that the people showed that they won’t accept slavery on the night of the failed
coup bid, Erdoğan added that Gülen movement calculated many mischiefs, but
couldn’t take the people into account.
Erdoğan
also touched upon the suspensions that were handed out since the failed
takeover, saying that the gaps will be filled.
During
his speech, Erdogan criticized Germany for not allowing him to participate in a
video conference.
“The
triumph is democracy’s, the squares are the people’s,” said flyers put through
doors overnight advertising free bus, ferry and subway transport to the rally.
The slogan adorned banners hung from bridges and buildings across the country.
“We’re
here to show that these flags won’t come down, the call to prayer won’t be
silenced, and our country won’t be divided,” said Hacı Mehmet Haliloğlu, a civil
servant who travelled from the Black Sea province of Ordu for the rally.
“This
is something way beyond politics, this is either our freedom or death,” he said,
a large Turkish flag over his shoulder and a matching baseball cap on his head.
Repeated
announcements were made in the area regarding a ban on carrying party flags or
party slogans. Millions of Turkish flags were seen in the area, as well as the
flags of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Albania and the Free Syrian Army (FSA).
Posters
of Erdogan and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, were also
seen hung around the venue.
The
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), the country’s third biggest party, was not
invited to the rally. The HDP co-leaders harshly criticized the fact that the
party was not invited to the event but some HDP voters independently attended
the event.
Emine
Aksu, a Turkish citizen attending the rally in Yenikapı, said the HDP should
have also been invited to take part in the demonstration. “We all took to the
streets against the coup attempt on that day. I voted for the HDP two years ago
but the HDP was not invited to the rally. The HDP should have been invited to
the rally for peace and unity,” said Aksu.
Fatma
Aksu from Batman said that as a Kurdish mother, she was at the rally for the
future of her children. “If this coup attempt had been successful, then there
would have been nothing left for Kurdish-Turkish brotherhood,” she said, adding
that one could not have spoken about democracy.
Turkey’s
state broadcaster TRT screened the rally in seven different languages live on
social media. The event was streamed on YouTube in Turkish, English, French,
Spanish, German, Russian and Arabic.
The
“Democracy and Martyrs Rally” was held as the last in a series of meetings to
protest the failed takeover, which is believed to have been masterminded by the
Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).
Meanwhile,
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (08.08.16) reports that the
self-styled prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun of the breakaway regime in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and leader of the National Unity Party
(UBP) participated also at the rally. On the other hand, Turkish Cypriot daily
Afrika newspaper (08.08.16) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci did not attend the rally, in spite the fact that he was invited. The
paper describes the rally as “the first step for the new Turkey that Erdogan is
dreaming about it” and adds that it is expected that in 2023 “the Islamic State
of Turkey” will be established as Erdogan aims.
3.
Pro-AKP columnist criticizes the Turkish Cypriots over their stance on the
coup attempt in Turkey
Writing
in Turkish pro AKP daily Sabah newspaper (06.08.16) columnist Mahmut
Ovur argues that the “administration” of “daughter land” “TRNC” has not
offered a strong support to Turkey after the coup attempt of 15 July 2016.
Under the title “Why the TRNC, FETÖ’S ‘black box’, is still silent?”
the columnist describes as “meaningful” the fact that Turkish Cypriot leader
Mustafa Akinci made no reference to FETÖ in his statement by which he condemned
the coup in Turkey. “The fact that prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun
referred to FETÖ, but said that the slightest organization was not found in
north Cyprus was more meaningful”, he claimed adding that “FETÖ is an
organization which threatens TRNC’s future as well” and “its activity in the
TRNC was not different than the one in Turkey”.
The
columnist claimed that Fethullah Gulen’s organization leaked into the
“capillary vessel” of the state in Turkey and it did the same thing but in a
more devious manner in the occupied area of Cyprus. “Moreover, it is said
that the situation there is deeper and dirtier because of the gambling and the
unregistered flow of money”, he notes adding that “perhaps this is the reason
for which the TRNC is seen as FETÖ’s black box”.
He
argues: “Reference is made to a very serious FETÖ organization in the TRNC,
from businessmen, to the police organization and the education sector. The
fact that, in spite of this, the TRNC government does not act is very
interesting. From Cyprus history we know that the US-British control is very
strong in that geographical area during the past 50 years. […] I wonder, is it
for this reason that the TRNC administration is continuing its silence now?
[…]”
Referring
to the issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (07.08.16) reported that
“Akinci was targeted” by pro-Erdogan media in
Turkey.
(I/Ts.)
4.
Akinci: There are circles in Cyprus that will reject even the best Cyprus
settlement
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (07.08.16) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader
Mustafa Akinci said that there are circles in both sides of Cyprus that will
reject the best, the most reasonable and the most rational solution.
Speaking
during the grape festival at the occupied village of Galateia, Akinci said: “The
voice of these circles has started gradually to rise. While, we are working with
all our strength for solution, their voices have started to rise”. Akinci
stressed that he did not come to power in order to repeat the stance, which
existed 42 years ago and did not produce solution, but to create a new
structure, which will be accepted by both sides, and the two sides will live in
freedom, security and equality.
Referring
to the natural gas resources, Akinci reiterated that it should be a source of
cooperation and not dispute, adding that this was the Turkish Cypriot side’s
concept from the beginning.
On
the Cyprus issue, Akinci said that in 2017 a new UN Secretary General and a new
US administration will come into force, claiming that it is expected that in the
government controlled area of Cyprus a propaganda phase will be experienced due
to the presidential elections of 2018. He added that the search for gas in
Cyprus’ EEZ will also enter a new stage in 2017. “Therefore we are working at
full speed in order to find a solution to the Cyprus problem by the end of
2016”, Akinci stressed.
Referring
to the 15th of July attempted coup in Turkey and the developments that emerged
afterwards, Akinci expressed the hope that such events are never experienced
again. Explaining that from the very beginning the Turkish Cypriot “people”
believe in democracy and pluralism and have internalised this, Akinci said that
pluralist democracy is an essential part of the parliamentary system. He
also stressed that from the very moment the coup attempt was realized in
Turkey, the Turkish Cypriots had objected to this, adding that no one can
expect the Turkish Cypriot “people “to act any
differently.
“The
democratic law system in Turkey, with every passing day will progress further.
Turkey said that it will overcome this situation in cooperation and never again
will such an attempt be made”, Akinci noted.
Reminding
the statements that whatever happens in Turkey after the coup attempt it will
reflect also in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Akinci said: “There
is a lot of nailing or back-stabbing in such periods. Exploiting such periods,
some persons may nail or slander each other due to personal or political
reasons. The antidote for this is to adhere strictly to democracy and to the
rules of law”.
(DPs)
5.
AA alleges that “security and guarantees” are the most difficult issue in the
Cyprus negotiations
Turkish
Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (06.08.16) published an “analysis” by
Turkish semi-official Anatolia news agency on the Cyprus problem, according to
which the issue of security and guarantees is among the main issues on which the
sides face difficulties to reach an agreement.
AA
notes that threat is the main source of the policies of both sides in Cyprus and
their “motherlands” as regards the security. For example, if the threat for the
Greek Cypriots comes from the Turkish Cypriots, the security policy is different
than in the occasion of a threat by Turkey. “The same situation is valid for the
Turkish Cypriots and the guarantor states”, argues the analysis noting that
Cyprus is important for Turkey from the point of view of being located at “an
opening point to the Mediterranean and influences the geopolitics of Eastern
Mediterranean”.
Referring
to a process of three stages, AA claims that all proposals submitted on the
issue of guarantees changed according to the existing conditions at a given
period of time and notes that according to the proposals submitted by the UN
officials today, the treaties of Alliance and Guarantees should be separated
from each other and one of them should be abandoned.
However,
the proposal submitted by the Greek Cypriot side provides for the total
abolition of the system, argues AA, adding that Turkey’s insistence that its
active and effective guarantees derived from 1960 Constitution should continue
forever, but Ankara gives the impression that it could revise this
position according to the changing conditions in order for not being the side
which will interrupt the negotiations. Therefore, Turkey wants two main
targets to be achieved on the issue of security and guarantees: the one
is to “secure the survival and security of the Turkish Cypriots” and the
other to prevent a threat deriving from the island against Turkey’s own security
and protect its “rights and interests in Eastern Mediterranean”.
“As
a requirement of the special conditions of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot people”
is the side which needs security more than anyone else in Cyprus, alleges the
“analysis”, claiming that “the implementation of the suggested international
security and guarantees system does not seem possible”.
The
case of security in Cyprus was built on the Turkish Cypriots’ right to exist and
of Greek Cypriots’ traumatic experiences of the past to be satisfied, alleges AA
claiming that “the last point to which the Turkish side could come on the
security issue is the acquis in the Annan Plan with some minor changes, provided
that its substance will not change”.
Arguing
that the Turkish position on the issue is strong from the point of view of the
international law, AA reports that all aforementioned agreements are in
effect and valid and they cannot be unilaterally amended because these are
international agreements. It notes that Turkey’s margins for concessions
on the issue of security and guarantees is not very broad because the political
agreement to be signed does not seem to be viable without having security.
The recent view submitted by the UN in the negotiation exceeds this margin,
notes AA. The first phase of this two-option plan provides for the
construction of a system in which the Treaty of Alliance will be valid and a
number of agreed troops to remain in the island. Accordingly, the Treaty of
Guarantees will be abolished, the right of unilateral intervention will be lost
and the “influential guarantees” principle will be interrupted. It is said
that the Turkish side might carry out a bargaining on the issue of increasing
the number of the troops and equipment which will remain in the island. The
second option provides for the ending of the Treaty of Alliance and the Turkish
troops to leave the island. However, the Treaty of Guarantees continues and the
wish is to create a system of international guarantors such as NATO and the EU.
Accordingly, the Turkish position for “active intervention” is abolished as the
system is becoming a system of international guarantees.
“[...],
It is estimated that having this kind of practice could be problematic from
the point of view of risk analysis, while the continuation of the new regime
which will be established in Cyprus is risky and there is a potential for
communal conflicts”, alleges AA.
(I/Ts.)
6.
Turkish Cypriot columnist: “Security and guarantees” are the easiest issue
in the Cyprus negotiations
Under
the title “Security and guarantees”, columnist Serhat Incirli in Turkish Cypriot
daily Kibris newspaper (08.08.16) expresses the view that security and
guarantees is the easiest issue in the Cyprus problem, because if the
problem is that the Turkish Cypriots are afraid of the Greek Cypriots and the
Greek Cypriots are afraid of Turkey, “it is very easy to settle this issue”.
He also expresses the view that the Greek Cypriots will not dare attempt an
attack against the Turkish Cypriots. He adds:
“Meanwhile,
it is useful to note the following: There is actually no one in the TRNC who
believes that the Greek Cypriots could attack, or will attack the Turkish
Cypriots and they have such a plan in mind. Those who say this are the
plunderer circles which are exploiting somehow the established order. […]
And the interesting thing is that all those belong to the ‘heroes’! Where is
your heroism my brother? What kind of heroes are you? You are cowards! Their
fear is not that the Greek Cypriots will attack, but it is the money. The
property. The plunder. I repeat. The issue of security and guarantees in
Cyprus could be overcome easily. The EU will become guarantor of the Greek
Cypriots and Turkey of the Turkish Cypriots. And the issue will be closed.
However the citizens should be told the truth. […]
The
actual problem in the issue of security and guarantees is the problem of the
sole existing legal bond of Turkey with the island of Cyprus.
The Security and Guarantees, that is, the well-known agreement of the 1960’s,
is the only organic bond of Turkey with the island of Cyprus. Otherwise,
it is not the issue of security of 200 thousands, 220 thousands or I do not
know how many Turks of Cyprus. If Turkey establishes a unit named Cyprus
Rapid Force consisted of 500 thousand persons in Sinop which is in its north, in
Artvin which is in its northeast, it has the power to guarantee not only the
Turkish Cypriots, but the half of the world. The Turkish army, despite the
blow it received during the 15 July attempt, is still one of the most powerful
armies in the world. It is the strongest army in the region.
Who
are you deceiving? Security and guarantees, they say! This is not even an issue.
The issue is not depriving Turkey from the legal ground of its relation with
Cyprus which ‘is its right’. […] The Turkish Cypriots have not the slightest
problem in the security and guarantees. I repeat: The problem is the issue
and the effort of the Greek Cypriots to distance Turkey from the island in the
sense of its ‘legal right’.”
(I/Ts.)
7.
Siber: The Greek Cypriot side’s passive behaviour towards Turkish Cypriots’
attacks create worries
Under
the title: “I feel uneasy”, Turkish Cypriot daily Diaylog newspaper (08.08.16)
reports that Sibel Siber, the “speaker” of the so-called assembly, stated
that the passive behaviour of the Greek Cypriot side towards the attacks faced
by the Turkish Cypriots who visit the south (Tr. Note: the free areas of the
Republic of Cyprus) creates worries even to those who are in favour of a
solution in Cyprus.
She
made these statements in an interview to Diyalog.
She
went on and claimed how important the issue of guarantees is for the Turkish
Cypriots stating: “Continuation of guarantees is the common will both of our
people and of our assembly”.
Sibel
also stated that solution in Cyprus should not be the cause for new conflicts
but a way to bring peace in the island, and she stated that she has worries over
the issue. “Peace is not reached just with saying ‘let’s sign an agreement,
let’s reconcile”, she said.
On
the issue of properties, Siber argued that in a possible solution the method of
property exchange and compensation will be applied for the Greek Cypriot
properties that are located in the occupied areas of Cyprus.
Finally
Siber said that rotating presidency is a condition for reaching a solution.
(CS)
8.
Turkish high-rank police officer who served in the breakaway regime was
arrested for links with FETO
Turkish
Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (08.08.16) reports that Ali Gundoglu, a
Turkish high-rank police officer who served in the breakaway regime between
2012-14, was arrested for links with Fetullah Terrorist Organization
(FETO).
Gundoglu,
who was sent to the breakaway regime from Turkey’s General Police Headquarters
had the duties of the “liaison officer” and was the person to select the
“police officers” to be send to Turkey for further education.
(CS)
9.
Ozyigit: Turkish Cypriots are becoming poorer every single
day
Turkish
Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (08.08.16) reports that Cemal Ozyigit, the
chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), stated that the majority of the
Turkish Cypriots are becoming poorer every day and are forced to borrow money.
At the same time he said, people are facing difficulties in paying back the
money they borrowed.
Citing
information of the “central bank”, Ozyigit stated that personal loans were
3,5 billion Turkish lira last December but have increased to 3,6 billion Turkish
lira during the first five months of 2016. This was an increase up to 2,44%,
he stated.
(CS)
10.
The GNP per capita was decreased in the occupied area of
Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (07.08.16) reports that Odul Muhtaroglu,
self-styled undersecretary of the “state planning organization” (“DPO”), in an
interview to the paper, said that the GNP per capita in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus was decreased 9,2% in 2015 compared to 2014. From $15,109 it
fell to $13,721. Muhtaroglu further said that the average rate of the GNP during
the last 10 years is $14,597. He noted that the economic growth in real terms
during the last decade was 2,6%, adding that their aim in 2016 is 5% growth and
5,5% in 2017.
The
paper publishes the following tables:
(DPs)
11.
Economic relations and Syria will be the key topics at Erdogan-Putin
meeting
According
to Ankara Anatolia news agency (07.08.16), Turkey-Russia economic relations
and the Syrian war will be the key topics to dominate next week’s visit to
Russia by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, analysts told Anadolu Agency on
Sunday.
Erdogan
and President Vladimir Putin will meet on Aug. 9, their first such meeting
following Turkey’s shooting down of a Russian warplane last
November.
Russian
political consultant Evgeny Minchenko said that the upcoming high-level meeting
is very important but the Syrian topic would not be easy to agree upon. “I don’t
expect any important decisions after this meeting. However, some significant
results in the economic sphere could be expected”, Minchenko
said.
Frozen
trade and economic projects will be back on the agenda, said Boris Dolgov, a
senior fellow at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Institute of
Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences on Sunday. Dolgov said that
tourism, the economy, trade relations and the lifting of sanctions are expected
to be discussed.
“I
think the main political topic of the meeting will be Syria. Russia must abandon
its support for the Kurds in Syria if they are expecting some steps from
Turkey,” Dolgov added.
Andrey
Listovsky, general director of the Energy Development Fund, an independent
engineering body involved in the Russian energy sector, said Putin and Erdogan's
meeting will bring the Turkish Stream project back to
life.
Listovsky
said that due to political instability in Ukraine, Russia wanted to stay away
from that country on gas transit issues, adding: "That's why Russia needs a new
natural gas pipeline. The most important alternative is the South Stream, in
other words, the Turkish Stream."
He
said that if Ankara did not show the same level of interest in the project as
Russia did, "Russian experts should convince the Turkish side ... If Russia can
bring the project into prominence, Turkey would not refuse
it".
Meanwhile,
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (08.08.16) reports that Russian Ambassador to
Ankara Andrey Karlov, in an interview to the paper, said that Russia always
advocates collaboration that will benefit both countries and said that during
the St. Petersburg meeting Putin and Erdogan will evaluate bilateral relations
and will come up with a solution to end the crisis.
Commenting
on the failed July 15 coup attempt, Karlov reiterated that Russia supports
the elected government in Turkey and is opposed to any unconstitutional action
against the government. Regarding Gülen schools, Karlov said that Russia
realized the structure of the school system and its intention long ago and
therefore closed down all Gülen schools in 2006.
12.
Nine icons were discovered in a house in occupied
Famagusta
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (08.08.16) reports that artefacts of arts were
discovered during a “police research” at the house of a person called Saban
Beyaz in occupied Famagusta.
According
to the paper, nine icons of the Greek Orthodox faith, along with eight pots of
various sizes, a broken bowl and a wooden four-piece board were found inside a
suitcase.
The
paper publishes a picture of the items found.
(CS)
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
