Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-09-23

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu describes the Greek Cypriot proposals as "excessive and contrary to the UN parameters"

[02] Erdogan met with Ban Ki Moon

[03] Secretary Kerry to see the Turkish Cypriots later in the week

[04] Davutoglu: No one has the right to test Turkey

[05] Sertoglu on the Cyprus Rally and the CFA process

[06] Akansoy recalls that the return of Varosha to its legal owners has been mentioned since the 1970's and asks for Turkish Cypriot "deputies" to enter into the fenced off city

[07] "KTSO" filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court of Cyprus on the halloumi issue

[08] Data regarding unemployment in the breakaway regime

[09] Women's trafficking in the breakaway regime

[10] Turkish government allows headscarf in high schools

[11] Alleged ISIL member treated at Turkish hospital

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu describes the Greek Cypriot proposals as "excessive and contrary to the UN parameters"

Eroglu claimed that he is aware of the support and the responsibilities he has allocated given by the "people" and alleged: "I have the will for an agreement, I am determined, but this must be a correct agreement and must not endanger you, the future of our people. Both I and the colleagues in my team, are looking for an agreement which will secure our legitimate rights and our interests and our equal status".

Eroglu reiterated his view that the agreement should not lead the Turkish Cypriots to the pre-1974 period and that he will not allow the emergence of an agreement which will disquiet the Turkish Cypriots.

Eroglu alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side submits "reasonable and logical" proposals at the table, but "our Greek Cypriot neighbors stand before us with a maximalistic mentality". "A give and take should be held at the current stage, but the stance of the Greek Cypriot side makes things difficult", he claimed.

Eroglu further alleged that the proposals submitted by the Greek Cypriot side since 11 February are "contrary to the established UN parameters" and "go to extremes". He described as "unacceptable and worrisome" the Greek Cypriot proposals especially on the issues of security, guarantees, citizenship and territory. He claimed that the Greek Cypriot proposals on the territory are "excessive" and called on President Anastasiades to bring "reasonable" proposals to the table, like the Turkish Cypriot side allegedly does. He claimed that the Greek Cypriot proposals on citizenship include "discriminations and differentiate treatment" among the "TRNC citizens", something which they cannot accept.

Eroglu alleged: "We are doing our bit, we are showing the necessary flexibility. If the others and mainly Greece, the UN and the EU also do their bit, the Greek Cypriot side can come to the point of [accepting] an agreement. Otherwise, the Greek Cypriot intransigence will continue. However, let the following be known: The Turkish side does not intend to wait idly before the Greek Cypriot intransigence. I am not saying this as a threat. This is our real view. Let no one say that 'they have no will to agree, they have a plan B or C'. We have only one goal at the moment: Reading an agreement the soonest and secure the two peoples' expressing their will as regards this agreement by going to separate and simultaneous referenda".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Erdogan met with Ban Ki Moon

The latest situation in Syria, the Cyprus issue, Gaza and other regional and world developments were discussed during the meeting.

The UN Chief congratulated the Turkish president on the release of the Turkish hostages held by ISIS and Erdogan said that they had been released following a successful operation by the Turkish Intelligence Agency (MIT).

President Erdogan also said that they aimed to make Istanbul a regional centre for the UN, thanking Mr Ban for his support on the issue.

On the topic of refugees from Syria, Erdogan said that Turkey's spending for the refugee crisis had reached 3.5 billion dollars and that the establishment of a no-fly zone was necessary to put an end to the human tragedy and crisis being experienced in the area.

While the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon briefed Erdogan on his meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades, the Turkish President stressed the need for the negotiations process in Cyprus to gain momentum.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, who is also in New York as part of the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly, attended a reception given by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in honour of the heads of foreign missions.

Eroglu and Erdogan met for a while during the reception held at the Turkevi (Turkish House) located opposite the UN Headquarters.

[03] Secretary Kerry to see the Turkish Cypriots later in the week

Kerry met with Cyprus President Nikos Anastasiades on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly with whom he discussed the renewed peace talk efforts with the recent appointment of a new U.N. Special envoy, Norwegian diplomat and former minister Espen Barth Eide.

"He made clear that the Cyprus issue and the need to get and inject new energy into the talks also came up during his recent trip to Ankara, and that we will remain very much engaged, including this week in number of other meetings both with the parties and with Espen Barth Eide ? We'll have a chance to see the Turkish Cypriots later in the week and engage [with them]," the official said.

Recently, the new Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus and called on his counterpart in Greece to join him for a "tea party" on the "Greek side of the Island" (editor's note: the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus) to discuss the settlement process and reach a quick conclusion to fasten meetings. The spokesperson of the Greek Foreign Ministry gave the cold shoulder to the offer and said that they would keep their policy within "international law" and that a quick solution to the stalemate can only come through the change in current Turkish policy.

Regardless of this recent row between the parties, the United States is still "cautiously optimistic" because the sides are willing to see the start of real negotiations. "The secretary [Kerry] made that clear in his visit to Ankara; he felt that the Turkish side also wanted to see this issue resolved. We are cautiously optimistic that we have new life in this process, and we want to be supportive of that," the official concluded.

Meanwhile, the paper reports that the United States expects Turkey to step up in the fight against ISIS now that it has secured the release of 49 hostages held by the militants, Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday.

Turkey, a U.S. ally and member of the NATO military alliance, has made commitments at various regional conferences to help in the effort against ISIS but the help has been limited so far because "they first needed to deal with their hostage situation," Kerry said in an appearance on MSNBC.

[04] Davutoglu: No one has the right to test Turkey

"No one can give a test to Turkey, as if it did not do what is necessary. We take our own decisions and will do what is necessary in order to protect our national interests," Davutoglu said in an interview on Sept. 22.

"Everybody should know ? something that I also told Mr Kerry when I was the Foreign Minister that Turkey does not have to prove anything. Turkey has always displayed that it can take a decisive attitude in line with what it believes in. They witnessed how Turkey was attentive even at times when [our] allies did not take into account some of our sensitivities," Davutoglu said.

No one should associate the current anti-ISIL coalition issue with the Turkish hostages and say, "let's see what Turkey will do now," he added.

"It's us that will make the decision of what we'll do, and we have not made that decision yet," he said.

If the intention is to launch a joint strategy in the region, "then Turkey is not a country that will be given an exam paper, but rather a country that will discuss as an equal," the Prime Minister said.

[05] Sertoglu on the Cyprus Rally and the CFA process

Evaluating the CFA (Cyprus Football Association) process and developments in sports in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Sertoglu noted that he supports the Turkish Cypriots who take part in international events, adding that as society the Turkish Cypriot "people" are in need of this. He added that the rally organisers gave their best efforts and that the rally was completed with a fantastic success.

Sertoglu continued his speech as follows: "'We did whatever the international laws required'" said the politicians? Ok but we also did that! Since the period after the 5th of November, the people who had been against this rally changed their minds after realizing that our community embraced this event. In the following days, such events will also take place in the other sports areas, and they should! Let the politicians sit and agree on a solution? Let sportsmen and the youth perform their sports internationally until the solution is found!"

Sertoglu stated: "It will be difficult to solve this issue amongst ourselves", adding that regarding the CFA process, he only fears God, and that nobody has come up with any alternative suggestions.

Sertoglu said: "I stood behind what I signed and promised in Zurich on the 5th of November! After that day, there have been a lot of agreements and meetings. It will be difficult to solve this issue amongst ourselves. Why? Till today the federations that attended the meeting say yes to the article, but refuse to speak. I sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA and said to Blatter and Platini that I am behind what we spoke about on the 5th of November but that we are unable to solve this problem?

We lived those days together. We are trying to do our homework but no one is trying with us! In the past, they said 'become a member and we shall speak', now they say 'apply, we'll evaluate it and speak later'. What are we going to speak about? I would like to repeat that I accepted the first parameter!

This issue is for FIFA and UEFA to solve! After the meeting of the clubs everything started to change. The point that we have reached in the CFA process is that we are loyal to the text we signed but because I believe that FIFA and UEFA should get involved I sent them a letter. The people in CFA wrote back to me stating that the letter that I wrote caused them discomfort. What can I do if they felt discomfort? We are unable to solve this and I wanted UEFA and FIFA to know."

[06] Akansoy recalls that the return of Varosha to its legal owners has been mentioned since the 1970's and asks for Turkish Cypriot "deputies" to enter into the fenced off city

In statements to Kibris TV, Akansoy said that he will submit to the self-styled speaker of the "assembly" Sibel Siber a demand for taking the necessary permits regarding the opening of Varosha to "members of the parliament".

According to Akansoy, even the "deputies" have no information regarding occupied Varosha and added that such an environment could not be "healthy'. "I want to walk around, understand and evaluate the whole area", he noted and argued: "The area should at least be opened and shown to the deputies. Otherwise, it is not possible to discuss or debate the issue in any manner. I will ask from the esteemed speaker of the assembly Sibel Siber to secure the necessary permits".

Akansoy noted that the return of Varosha to its legal owners has been mentioned since the 1970's and added that if we refer to the 1977-79 High Level Agreements, it should be recalled that Varosha was included there. "The inhabitants of Famagusta are living side by side with a dead man. This must be made clear", he said and added:

"Even we do not know what is there in Varosha. We hear that some places, cafes have been opened there. As a deputy I want to say the following: I will appeal to the Speaker of the Assembly. I want to walk around, understand and evaluate the entire area together with the deputies who are interested [in doing so]. The area should at least be opened and shown to the deputies. Otherwise, it is not possible to discuss or debate the issue in any manner. I will ask for the necessary permits to be secured".

(I/Ts.)

[07] "KTSO" filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court of Cyprus on the halloumi issue

In the lawsuits it is asked that the producers in "South Cyprus" are included in every stage of the registration of halloumi. The paper also reports that the Supreme Court should include in its agenda the lawsuits and produce results in a short period of time.

It is also announced that in case all the domestic remedies are exhausted, they will continue the legal process at the international level.

[08] Data regarding unemployment in the breakaway regime

The paper also notes that 62% of the unemployed persons are women and adds that according to the unemployment data of the same period last year, the number of persons who are registered as unemployed has doubled.

[09] Women's trafficking in the breakaway regime

According to the there are 39 night clubs operating in the breakaway regime. In these night clubs there are 361 foreign women who work as "B-girls" after obtaining permission from the "state"; however they are forced to work as prostitutes. The paper also notes that most of these night clubs operate in the occupied part of Lefkosia

(TR. Note: "B girls" are woman employed to talk to customers in a bar and encourage them to buy drinks)

[10] Turkish government allows headscarf in high schools

During his briefing to the press on Monday, Arinc, also the spokesman for the Justice and Development (AK) Party government, said a rule in the dress code saying students had to be bareheaded while attending high schools registered at the Turkish National Education Ministry had now been abolished.

The Turkish Minister stressed that students can now continue their education wearing headscarves, adding that the related regulation will be issued within the next two days.

[11] Alleged ISIL member treated at Turkish hospital

Clashes have been underway between ISIL and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), an offshoot of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Syria, over the past few days. There have been claims that militants from both sides are being treated in Turkey. According to sources here, PYD members are being treated at Suruc State Hospital and ISIL militants are being treated at Akcakale State Hospital. Militants in critical condition from both sides are often reportedly taken to the Mehmet Akif Inan State Hospital, all of which are in Sanl?urfa.

Photographs of Alo in a hospital were shared on Twitter by many users who expressed anger at the allegations that he is being treated at a Turkish hospital.

The Turkish government's stance towards ISIL has so far been ambiguous. The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government has been accused of supporting the terrorist organization by turning a blind eye to its militants crossing the border and even of buying its oil. There have also been claims that Turkey has sent weapons to opposition groups fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. The government has denied supporting ISIL, which recently released 49 Turkish hostages it had been holding for three months.

In a challenge to the government's stance, Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman and party spokesperson Haluk Koc on Monday called on the AK Party government to publicly announce that it defines ISIL as a terrorist organization. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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