9/8/16

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
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)

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