The information that Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar confronted a Turkish journalist is reported by the Turkish news network "Halk Tv", which is the organ of the Turkish opposition.
The journalist of the network complains that she was confronted with the "fire" of Mr Tatar and a colleague of his, in the context of an interview that took place in the "presidential". The news was also reported by the Turkish press.
Turkish journalist Seyhan Avsar went to the occupied territories to conduct interviews with the brother of slain T/C businessman Khalil Falyali and the T/C leader. Ms Avsar said in a related report that she arranged the interview with Mr Tatar by telephone. "When my request for an appointment was accepted, I did not imagine that I would be kicked out (of the presidential office) because of a question I asked Tatar," Ms Avsar writes.
The episodic interview
Further to the publication, the Turkish journalist says that at the "presidential" office, before the start of the interview, she informed the press spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Aydin Accourt, of the questions she wished to put to Mr Tatar. Ms Avsar, among other things, wished to be informed about the development of the investigation into the murder of the T/C intellectual Kutlu Andali. "You cannot ask that. The world is on fire, and you are interested in Kutlu Andali," was the response the Turkish journalist received from Tatar's colleague, who then limited the length of the interview to five minutes.
Regarding the interview, stating that before it began, Mr Tatar's associates removed her personal belongings, Ms Avsar added the following: "I managed to remain in Tatar's room for 10 minutes. The question I asked Tatar about the assassination of Khalil Falyali initially angered President Tatar and his press adviser. Tatar stood up and started to speak shouting, while the press spokesman shouted that I have no right to ask that question."
On this particular controversial point of her meeting with the T/C leader, Ms. Avsar also attributed to Mr. Tatar negative characterizations of the President of the Republic of Cyprus.
Tatar on energy and the Cyprus problem
During the brief meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ms Avsar managed to "touch upon" certain issues, such as the new developments in the energy field in the Eastern Mediterranean in the shadow of the war in Ukraine. "There is natural gas in the Mediterranean countries. The transportation of this gas to Europe will be profitable for the Greek side as well. This would also enhance Cyprus' position (on the international scene). Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov mentioned Cyprus in a recent speech. He said that tdvk was declared unilaterally. That was an important statement," Tatar said in response to a question.
On the Cyprus issue, Tatar said that "we are talking all the time. With the European Union and the Cypriots. Of course they are aiming for a federal government. We will never accept that. Accepting this demand means that Turkey will leave here."
Tatar also referred to the neutral stance of the Turkish side in the Ukraine crisis and described the ongoing economic crisis as the biggest challenge facing the TCs. Avsar, according to what she said in her publication, ended with the T/C leader's outburst of anger over the Falyali affair and a new verbal attack on her by the T/C leadership's spokesperson that "she is not really a journalist, but a person who carries out orders."
Source: CNA
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