Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-08-17

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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] UK producers react against the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus to have halloumi / hellim designated as a Protected Designation of Origin

[02] Akinci: "We are working towards guarantying the equality, security and independence of the Turkish Cypriot people"; He reassured expat "TRNC home-owners" that their rights will be 'safeguarded'

[03] Burcu: After the solution individuals will be able to claim their property rights only through a Property Commission

[04] Denktas: The property issue could be solved with global exchange; Turkey's credits to the breakaway regime are compensation for the properties given to illegal Turkish settlers

[05] Izcan: Those who try to strike fear into the people on the property issue are anxious to cover their malpractices and thefts

[06] Erhurman evaluates the Cyprus problem

[07] Almost four thousand construction permits were given in the last two years

[08] Unfinished hotel projects valued at 300 million dollars to be completed in occupied Vokollida

[09] Bozkir said that they are satisfied with the positive flow of the Cyprus talks

[10] Ozgurgun dismissed his opponents for the UBP's leadership from the party's central committee

[11] Kamil Hur celebrates again the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus

[12] An increase of tourism in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[13] Davutoglu to offer four options in coalition talks with MHP leader

[14] Erdogan's declaration of 'system change' outrages Turkey's opposition

[15] US to pull Patriot missile-defence system from Turkey for modernization upgrades

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] UK producers react against the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus to have halloumi / hellim designated as a Protected Designation of Origin

Speaking to KIBRIS newspaper, UK producers claimed that halloumi / hellim is not a Cypriot product only and stated that in case the efforts for design it as a PDO product are successful, they will continue producing the cheese under another name.

According to the internet side "the Farmer", the British government has asked companies to formally register their intention to object to the PDO application by September. Old Plaw Hatch Farm, High Weald Dairy, and Yorkshire Dama Cheese which produce halloumi / hellim cheese in the UK claimed that halloumi / hellim is not a product of Cyprus only but also comes from Lebanon and Syria and was originated by the Phoenicians. One of these companies the High Weald Dairy won an international cheese award in 2010 for the bio halloumi / hellim that produces.

Reporting on the same issue, Turkish daily Milliyet (17.08.15) writes that the self-styled minister of economy of the breakaway regime Sunat Atun stated that nothing can change the fact that halloumi / hellim is a Cypriot product and wondered why the English producers did not react against the Scottish for declaring whisky to be a PDO product. He also said that the British must show respect on the issue.

On his part the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot "Chamber of Industry" Ali Cirali stated that he did not find ethical the reaction of Britain which is a guarantor country of Cyprus and added that the European Commission has already accepted halloumi / hellim to be a characteristic Cyprus cheese. He also said that Britain which used Cyprus as a colony should have known that halloumi / hellim is a Cypriot product and added that UK producers will be forced to produce their cheese using another name. "halloumi / hellim is a Cypriot product", he stated.

(CS)

[02] Akinci: "We are working towards guarantying the equality, security and independence of the Turkish Cypriot people"; He reassured expat "TRNC home-owners" that their rights will be 'safeguarded'

They first met with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, later with the self-styled assembly speaker of the breakaway regime Sibel Siber and last with the self-styled prime minister Omer Kalyoncu.

Speaking during the visit, Akinci said that they knew very well what had been experienced in the past and expressed the hope that the bitter experiences of the past will not be repeated. "The value of peace is best known by those who fought therefore you, who have been raised at military academies, know well how important peace is. There is an atmosphere of peace in Cyprus for the last 41 years. People had suffered a lot in the past which was followed by a military balance however this is not enough. This should be balanced with political and economic structure in order to be sustainable", Akinci claimed.

Pointing out that negotiations were being held to establish a balanced structure in Cyprus, Akinci noted that the negotiations process which started in 1968 is still continuing. "We have been working towards guarantying the equality, security and independence of the Turkish Cypriot people in a possible solution. I hope the Greek Cypriot side shows the same understanding and thus we can reach an agreement which will also safeguard their rights", Akinci added.

Speaking during the visits, Commander Uzun said that he is honoured to serve in the "TRNC" and added that they will be working towards improving the security of the Turkish Cypriot "people".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot weekly Cyprus Today (15.08.15), in its front page under the banner headline "Expat homes will be 'safeguarded'" reported, inter alia, the following:

"Akinci has sought to reassure expat TRNC home-owners that their rights will be 'safeguarded' under any settlement to the island's decades-old dispute.

Mr Akinci spoke out to try to calm fears over how a new 'Independent Property Commission' would handle claims by pre-1974 owners - aired by the British Residents Society (BRS) as a 'grave concern' in a letter delivered to Akinci last week.

His words came as reports surfaced of Greek Cypriots visiting homes in the North (editor's note: the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) and warning their occupants to leave, claiming a solution is just 'months away' and that everyone is returning home'. (?)

Speaking to Cyprus Today, Akinci said: 'Our expat friends should not be concerned. Their property rights will be safeguarded. No-one will become victim to this problem'.

But he added: 'They have to understand that the land they are living on belongs to someone else. So the best way to resolve this is through compensation. Perhaps a special fund can be created for this purpose. The criteria have not yet been discussed and we are at the very beginning. But they should not be concerned. I was elected to find a bi-zonal solution. I was not elected to find a settlement where everyone will be mixed up, and this is certainly not what we are negotiating'. (?)"

[03] Burcu: After the solution individuals will be able to claim their property rights only through a Property Commission

Responding to the paper's questions as regards some concerns in the occupied area of Cyprus and information published in some Turkish Cypriot newspapers, Burcu noted that the aim of this Commission is both the find solutions to property issues and not bring the individuals the one against the other. He said: "After a solution is reached and after the commission is established, a basis will be created for the individuals to claim their rights through the Property Commission without coming the one against the other. Even though the individuals agree and find amicable solutions between them, they will not be able to perform a transaction between themselves. Any kind of transaction regarding the property will be held within the framework of the decisions and the control of the Property Commission".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (15.08.15) reported that Burcu said that during the press conference on the occasion of the completion of 100 days since his "election", the Turkish Cypriot leader gave no fixed time table as regards the negotiations. He noted that Akinci had only pointed out that the process will be prolonged if an agreement is not reached by the parliamentary elections to be held in the government-controlled area of Cyprus in May 2016. He argued that there is an expectation that serious progress will be achieved within 2015 in the negotiations and a referendum will be held in 2016. He added that this expectation is expressed also by Espen Barth Eide, UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus.

Burcu argued that Akinci had just referred to the reality that the climate of the negotiating process might be negatively influenced because of the nature of the elections. Burcu said that the Turkish Cypriot leadership under Akinci referred to no timetable, but they noted that the problem could be solved in months not years if the sides work with good will and productively.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Denktas: The property issue could be solved with global exchange; Turkey's credits to the breakaway regime are compensation for the properties given to illegal Turkish settlers

In statements during a press conference of Friday, Denktas said that they will establish a committee with representatives from various parts of the society and carry out a detailed study.

Denktas argued that the debates held on the property issue have started to divide the "people" even from now and described this division as potential danger for the future. He claimed that the constructions sector has come to a complete standstill in this "unrest" and the economy has been negatively influenced.

Denktas said that he was annoyed by the fact that Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci described as "legal document of use" the so-called legal title deeds granted by the breakaway regime.

Denktas alleged that the property left by the Turkish Cypriots in the government-controlled area of Cyprus is not 450 thousand donums [Translator's note: A land measure of around 1000 square meters] as it is estimated, but at least 600 thousand donums.

Denktas said that the purchase of properties by Russian companies established in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus intensified recently and that an increase is observed in the purchase of property in many areas in which investments had been prevented. Denktas claimed that as a return to these properties which are purchased cheaply in the occupied area of Cyprus, the holders of these properties may become owners of Turkish Cypriot property in the government ? controlled area of the island by exchanging property provided that this is accepted by the property's "new owner".

Commenting on the property issue in Turkish Cypriot Yeni Duzen newspaper (17.08.15), columnist Unal Findik writes that Denktas said that the credits granted by Turkey to the breakaway regime are "compensation for the properties given to the citizens from Turkey", as the illegal Turkish settlers who have been granted property in the occupied area of the island are described. Arguing that this statement was a gaffe, Findik notes that Denktas also said that the credits are still regarded as a loan and the issue of paying compensation for the aforementioned properties is on the agenda.

Describing the property issue "as important and thorny as" the other chapters which constitute the Cyprus problem, Findik says that this is an issue which concerns almost everyone on the island and argues that the Greek Cypriots are more relaxed on this matter because the number of the refugees who abandoned property in the occupied area is known and they have not taken title deeds for the properties on which they live in the government-controlled area of the island, nor they have sold these properties.

"Therefore, there is no complexity for the Greek Cypriots. For the Turkish Cypriot community, however, this issue is unsolvable", notes the columnist recalling that "there are plots of land which have changed hands 3-5 times and on which multi-storey blocks have been built and sold to many persons".

Pointing out that this issue cannot be ignored at the negotiating process, the columnist underlines that the approach must not be the one that says "we have shed blood, we took them, and they belong to us".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Izcan: Those who try to strike fear into the people on the property issue are anxious to cover their malpractices and thefts

Izcan said: "No one can take no one's property from his hand by force. Everyone should understand this. It has become definite that when a solution is reached there will be no global exchange of property and the individual's property right will be respected".

He noted that during the forthcoming negotiating process, the criteria and the principles for this will be clarified and added: "Those who try to strike fear into the people are actually those who are anxious to cover their own malpractices, thefts and injustices. These are the ones who are actually afraid".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Erhurman evaluates the Cyprus problem

Speaking during a program on the "BRT", Erhurman drew attention to the coordination of the CTP-BG and National Unity Party (UBP) "coalition government". Pointing out that the "coalition government" will serve as a "reform government", he said work to be done and "laws" to be passed were scheduled.

Referring to the property issue, he said discussions being held on the issue are still early and added that criteria to be discussed on property have not been agreed on yet.

Touching upon the discussions on the property issue and claims that the right of return will be given to the previous owners, Erhurman referred to the decision of the European Court of Human Rights. "Property right is a human right however bestowing this right does not necessarily mean bestowing the right of return to the property", Erhurman said.

Regarding the Governance and Power Sharing Chapter, Erhuman evaluated the issue of rotating presidency and added that the Turkish Cypriot side has red lines on the issue. He therefore stressed that it is out of question for the presidency to belong to the Greek Cypriot side only like it was during the 1960 Republic.

Also expressing the "government's support" to the negotiations being carried out by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, he said what really matter is to reach a sustainable solution which will satisfy the "people".

[07] Almost four thousand construction permits were given in the last two years

The paper also writes that the most permits were given for constructions to be built in the occupied part of Lefkosia and Geunyeli while the least permits were filed for occupied Morfou.

Between 2013-2014, 1,306 constructions were made in the occupied part of Lefkosia, 1,224 constructions in Keryneia, 728 in Famagusta, 378 in Trikomo and 314 in Morfou. Among the construction permits, 1,581 were for residences, 743 for assisting building for residences, 95 for workshops, 310 for apartments, 40 for hotels and 17 for restaurants.

(CS)

[08] Unfinished hotel projects valued at 300 million dollars to be completed in occupied Vokollida

The paper writes that these are hotels which are expected to be completed and start operating the sooner in one and the latest within two years. One of these is the Acapulco Resort Hotel while the other two hotels belong to firms of Turkish interests, according to the paper.

The construction of the three hotels had started in 2003 but was left in the middle, writes the paper adding that among the 13 projects that were undertaken in the area during the last years, only two were able to be completed until now: The Kaya Artemis Hotel which was completed in 2007 and the Hotel of Noah's Arc which started to operate in 2011.

(CS)

[09] Bozkir said that they are satisfied with the positive flow of the Cyprus talks

"It was an extremely detailed and beneficial meeting," Bozkir said after meeting Britain's European Minister David Lidington in Aylesbury, a town to the north of London. Bozkir said Turkey could benefit from Britain's experience in coming to a settlement with armed nationalist groups in Northern Ireland, where the 1997 Good Friday Agreement ended 27 years of violence.

Bozkir said that the meeting also addressed Cyprus - the former British colony. "We have expressed joint satisfaction with the positive flow of talks on the island," Bozkir added.

"We will come together again and take up how we can accelerate a solution, how we can eliminate problems that might arise and how the new status of Cyprus would be integrated to the EU", Bozkir noted.

[10] Ozgurgun dismissed his opponents for the UBP's leadership from the party's central committee

According to the paper, Huseyin Ozgurgun, the current chairman of the party, dismissed of their duties, as members of the party's central committee, Nazim Cavusoglu and Ersin Tatar who are his opponents at UBP'e election congress which will be held on October 31.

The two men strongly accused Ozgurgun's action calling it undemocratic. On his part, Ozgurgun stated that the reason he dismissed Cavusoglu and Tatar was their constant criticism against the party and its policy and argued that they should have resigned from their post by themselves.

(CS)

[11] Kamil Hur celebrates again the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus

Under the title "The Republic of Cyprus is alive", Afrika writes that Hur accused the guarantor powers of the Republic of Cyprus for the suffering of the Cypriots. Hur said that the only solution to the Cyprus problem is the Republic of Cyprus and those who look for other solutions are actually "breeding" the non-solution.

(I/Ts.)

[12] An increase of tourism in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

In a press release, it read that the hotel occupancy in July 2014 was 42.6%; in July 2015, however, the occupancy was recorded as 45.2% - an increase of 2.6%.

It is also reported that there was also an increase of 11.3% in the number of passengers arriving by sea and air to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus during January-July 2015. Whilst an increase of 10.3% of Turkish citizens had entered through the illegal ports, other foreign nationals increased as well by 14.2% from countries such as Poland, Slovenia, UK, Iran, France, Italy, Denmark, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

[13] Davutoglu to offer four options in coalition talks with MHP leader

Since Bahceli has often reiterated that the MHP wants no part in a minority or a caretaker government, there is currently little hope in Ankara that a coalition between the AK Party and MHP will materialize.

As the constitutionally mandated 45 days during which Davutoglu has to form a coalition government ends on Aug. 23, early elections are seen as inevitable since the MHP made it clear that it wanted to stay out of a coalition government with Davutoglu calling them the "only option for Turkey". Considering that time is running out, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, over the weekend claimed that a decision to form a coalition government could be made this week.

Surprisingly accepting Davutoglu's invitation for a meeting for coalition talks, Bahceli was granted by his party to hold coalition talks on Saturday and according to Sabah newspaper's sources in Ankara, Davutoglu would submit a coalition offer with four options to Bahceli in today's meeting. The first option that Davutoglu will discuss with Bahceli is a long-term coalition, but the AK Party wants Bahceli to soften his discourse and support the steps taken in democratization.

The biggest drawback to the first option is seen as Bahceli's harsh rhetoric that he adopted after the June 7 parliamentary elections. Reportedly, even though both parties' bases find an AK Party-MHP coalition favourable, Bahceli's discourse is one of the main reasons undermining a long-term coalition option. If both sides do not reach an agreement on a long-term coalition government, Davutoglu is expected to bring the short-term reform government option to the table as a second option. According to sources, the second option will include fighting terror full steam and some reforms to increase the public's democratic gains. A new constitution, changes in electoral law and reducing the election threshold are among other topics included in the second option.

The third option in Davutoglu's coalition offer is asking for the MHP's support for an AK Party minority government. As the third option, Davutoglu will reportedly promise Bahceli to make some short term reforms that include reducing the election threshold considering the terror conditions and to go to the ballot box in the spring of 2016. The last option on the list is to have early election in November with the current government. Evaluating a possible coalition government between the AK Party and MHP, AK Party sources have said that even though they have no prejudices about a coalition with the MHP, Bahceli should soften his discourse to remove the impression of a "war cabinet" surrounding a possible AK Party-MHP coalition.

[14] Erdogan's declaration of 'system change' outrages Turkey's opposition

In remarks delivered in his hometown, the Black Sea province of Rize, on Aug. 14, Erdogan said that Turkey had witnessed a change in the President's new role and asked for the Constitution to be updated to recognize his de facto deployment of enhanced powers. "There is a President with de facto power in the country, not a symbolic one. The President should conduct his duties for the nation directly, but within his authority. Whether one accepts it or not, Turkey's administrative system has changed. Now, what should be done is to update this de facto situation in the legal framework of the Constitution," he said.

The remarks came exactly a day after incumbent Prime Minister, the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Ahmet Davutoglu, failed to forge a coalition alliance with the Republican People's Party (CHP), edging Turkey closer toward new elections.

According to CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan's statement marked the "acknowledgement of a coup". "He [Erdogan] wants this coup that he initiated to be settled on legitimate, legal grounds. He says, 'I want this to happen by making a constitutional change.' He wants to implement the coup process in the same way that putschist Kenan Evren did [before Turkey's 1980 military coup]. A putschist first stages the coup and then builds the coup's legal infrastructure," Kilicdaroglu told daily Hurriyet.

In the run-up to the Presidential election in August 2014, which he won in the first round, Erdogan repeatedly stated that the current Constitution grants "executive power" to a President who comes to office via the popular vote, just as the 1982 constitution granted "executive power" to the 1980 coup leader Kenan Evren.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli also slammed Erdogan through messages posted to his Twitter account over the weekend. Bahceli said that both "ethical and legal systems of the country are in a mess", implicitly blaming 13 years of AKP rule for this situation.

"But when did the state and governance system change? This is unknown! If the governance system is under the control of one person, woe is us! It should be known that we cannot tolerate a home-product Hitler, Stalin or Gaddafi. Turkey is bigger than one person", Bahceli said.

A senior executive of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), however, suggested that Erdogan's remarks reflected a bitter truth. "In his own presidential palace, with his own discretionary fund, he [Erdogan] is acting as President of the country in a way that Turkey doesn't deserve, in violation of the laws and the Constitution," said Pervin Buldan, the deputy parliamentary group chair of the HDP.

"He is trying to get the presidential system de facto settled. He put this into force after winning the presidential election," Buldan added.

Since being elected to his current post, Erdogan has chaired a number of cabinet meetings, arguing that this is a constitutional right granted to any head of the Turkish state. Among the duties and powers relating to executive functions of the President, Article 104 of the Constitution lists "presiding over the Council of Ministers or calling the Council of Ministers to meet under his or her chairmanship whenever he or she deems it necessary."

[15] US to pull Patriot missile-defence system from Turkey for modernization upgrades

The two U.S. Patriot missile-defence batteries, which have been in Turkey as part of a broader NATO mission since 2013, "will be redeployed to the United States for critical modernization upgrades that will ensure the U.S. missile defence force to remain capable of countering evolving global threats and protecting Allies and partners ? including Turkey," the joint statement read.

The United States will continue to work closely with Turkey especially in fight against ISIS and supporting "Turkey's air defence capabilities, including against ballistic missile risks and threats," according to the statement.

Apart from the United States, it is announced on Saturday by a Defense Ministry spokesman that Germany will also pull out two Patriot missile-defence batteries and 250 soldiers deployed in south-eastern Turkey to thwart attacks from war-torn Syria.

Turkey had requested the batteries from its NATO military alliance to help it bolster its air defences against possible missile attack from Syria.

The Defence Ministry spokesman said Germany's decision was based on an assessment that the threat of missile attacks from Syria had significantly diminished.

NATO in 2013 stationed five Patriot missile batteries about 100km from the Syrian border. Germany and the United States provided two batteries each while the fifth came from Spain. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

(DPs/ AM)

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