Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-09-17

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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] Akinci will meet with Anastasiades and Moon in NY

[02] Akinci: We have to ensure a just solution to the Cyprus problem

[03] Foreign delegations attended new "judicial year's" opening ceremony in the occupied area of Cyprus; Oneri: Files regarding corruption do not come before "justice"

[04] Colak discussed the Cyprus talks with Nuland and Eide

[05] Turkish Cypriot daily reveals details from the discussions of the working groups on the "economy" chapter

[06] Statements by Hadjirousos to Kibris: ""The Maronites want a separate region"

[07] Turkish MFA asks Azerbaijan's support for "TRNC" to obtain the observer status at TURKPA

[08] TDP's delegation held contacts in Turkey

[09] Tsipras interviewed by Hurriyet; "Turkey and Greece should trust Anastasiades and Akinci for the solution of the Cyprus problem"

[10] "National Unity Party is sinking into chaos"

[11] Increase in the occupancy of the hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus

[12] Erdogan attacks 'dishonourable' magazine over 'selfie'

[13] Turkey's opposition parties slam probe into Dogan Media Group

[14] Davutoglu: HDP must show stance against PKK terror

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci will meet with Anastasiades and Moon in NY

During his visit to New York, he will meet with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. He will also have meetings with high officials.

[02] Akinci: We have to ensure a just solution to the Cyprus problem

Addressing yesterday the opening ceremony of the new "judicial year" 2015-16 in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Akinci pointed out the importance of the Turkish Cypriot "people" believing in a just solution and added: "When the Turkish Cypriot people are going to the ballot box in the referendum, they should go having in their heart the feeling that 'yes, this is a just solution, it will not lead us back to the pre-1974 conditions, we can build a future in peace and tranquillity now by taking our rights in a just structure, but by also seeing the rights of the other community and by recognizing it. Our duty is to ensure this. Justice is the most necessary thing in every issue".

Recalling that 18.000 civil cases had been filed in 2014, Akinci noted that 12.000 of these cases were transferred to 2015 and in the first half of 2015 another 12.000 cases were added to them. "How will these cases end", he wondered.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (17.09.15) reports that Akinci met with a delegation of jurists visiting the occupied area of Cyprus on the occasion of the new "judicial year". Akinci told them that they want to find a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem in which both communities will be happy and the pain of the past will not be repeated. He argued that the Turkish Cypriot community is probably the only community in the world, which said "yes" to a plan and to entering into the EU, but remained outside the EU because another community voted "no".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Foreign delegations attended new "judicial year's" opening ceremony in the occupied area of Cyprus; Oneri: Files regarding corruption do not come before "justice"

The paper writes that Serdar Ozguldur, chairman of Turkey's Court of Jurisdictional Disputes, Zerrin Gungor, chairman of Turkey's Council of State, Ismail Rustu Cirit, first chairman of Turkey's Court of Cassation, Asif Khosa, member of Pakistan's Supreme Court, Dr. Atay Suroy, member of Kosovo's Constitutional Court, Fatos Lulo, member of Albania's Constitutional Court and Recep Komurcu, representative of Turkey's Constitutional Court were among those who addressed the opening ceremony.

In his speech, Oneri noted also that they would not be able to refer to a "just state administration" in case they do not rip-off bureaucracy, populism, partisanship and favoritism. Referring to the files regarding corruption in the occupied area of Cyprus, Oneri wondered why these files have not come before "justice" in spite of the fact that many years passed.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Colak discussed the Cyprus talks with Nuland and Eide

According to a press release by the "ministry", Colak, evaluating the UN-led negotiation process aiming to reach a comprehensive agreement in Cyprus during her meeting with Nuland, said that this is the most intensified negotiation process between the two leaders since the Annan plan that this constitutes a great opportunity, and that efforts to result a positive outcome at a short time are continuing.

At the meeting between Colak and Eide, the latest stage on the intensified Cyprus talks between Akinci and Anastasiades was discussed. During the meeting, Colak said that the support of the "foreign ministry" to the process will continue and that the "ministry" is well aware of its responsibilities.

(DPs)

[05] Turkish Cypriot daily reveals details from the discussions of the working groups on the "economy" chapter

Another issue of disagreement, notes the paper, is the distribution of the federal government's income. The Turkish Cypriot side thinks that 6% of this income should be given for infrastructure projects in the "founding states", while the Greek Cypriot side insists that the sum to be transferred should be calculated over the current income and not the general total, because there is the possibility of the federal government being left with no money due to its expenses.

The administration of the "public debt" is also an element which has been revised upon an objection by the Turkish Cypriot side. The limitation of the indebtedness of the "founding states" by the federal government was revised because of the need of the Turkish Cypriot "founding state" of having more financing. It has been agreed that this limitation will be suspended for a period because the Turkish Cypriot founding state needs to make many investments.

According to the paper, convergence has to a great extent been reached on the powers of the federal state's Central Bank. It was agreed that the cooperatives, on which the working groups were not agreeing in the past, will be bound to the federal government's Central Bank. The working groups have jointly decided that the entire banking sector, including the financing institutions which are not banks, will be subject to Central Bank's control and regulation.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Statements by Hadjirousos to Kibris: ""The Maronites want a separate region"

Moreover, according to the paper, the Maronite religious group, in a possible solution to be, would prefer to remain under the authority of the "Greek Cypriot founding state" due to the religious and language proximity.

Hadjirousos stated to the paper that they have already conveyed their demands to the two leaders and the negotiators and also to the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General in Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide. He also added that they had informed him that all the relevant parties will discuss their demands in the next stages of the Cyprus negotiation talks. He also added that besides the Maronites, Armenians and Latins are expecting for their status to be clarified and determined after the solution.

(AK)

[07] Turkish MFA asks Azerbaijan's support for "TRNC" to obtain the observer status at TURKPA

(DPs)

[08] TDP's delegation held contacts in Turkey

According to the paper, the delegation evaluated during its contacts in Turkey, the recent incidents and attacks in the country, the latest developments on the Kurdish peace process and the latest developments on the Cyprus problem.

The TDP delegation met with the co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP), Ayhan Bilger at the party's headquarters and afterwards with the general secretary of the Republican People's Party (CTP) Gursel Tekin.

During the meeting with HDP, Ozyigit condemned the racist-fascistic attacks that took place a few days ago against the HDP's offices in several provinces in Turkey and expressed their support to the HDP. Ozyigit also underlined the need for all disputes and problems experienced in Turkey to be solved via dialogue. On the Cyprus problem, the TDP delegation exchanged views with the HDP delegation about the Cyprus negotiation talks and briefed them on the recent developments.

Also, during the meeting with CHP, Ozyigit stressed the importance of the CHP's stance towards the efforts taking place in the island for reaching a solution. Ozyigit also expressed the wish that the peace processes both in Turkey and Cyprus, move forward and end positively.

The TDP's delegation returned to the occupied area of Cyprus after the completion of the AKP congress.

(AK)

[09] Tsipras interviewed by Hurriyet; "Turkey and Greece should trust Anastasiades and Akinci for the solution of the Cyprus problem"

Asked to evaluate the recent developments on the Cyprus problem, Tsipras described the election of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci as a positive development and added, inter alia, the following: "With the aim of the re-unification of the two people in the island, there is an opportunity and sincere efforts for a progress to be achieved. Leaving the past behind, there is also a chance for establishing a framework and moving forward to the future. Akinci speaks about "Cypriotism". And the (Greek Cypriot leader in the south) -Translator's note: [As the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades is called by the paper] is in the same direction. And there is an important condition for all these. And this condition is that Turkey and Greece trust Akinci and Anastasiades, so that a progress can be achieved at the negotiation talks", Tsipras said.

To the question: "What will the Greek-Turkish ties be if the Cyprus problem is solved?", Tsipras replied as follows: "We will enter into a different era. There is no reason for tension between Turkey and Greece and to be in a situation of a cold war. Disagreements exist. But these disagreements could be solved by international law. If there is good-will and we all realize that the cooperation and the mutual progress is of our interest, then a lot of things could change in the region".

Tsipras explained also in the interview the reasons for deciding to go to the polls and his optimism for the result of the ballot boxes.

(AK)

[10] "National Unity Party is sinking into chaos"

All the seven candidates who will run for the party's leadership in the congress, including the current UBP leader Huseyin Ozgurgun agree to postpone the congress but disagree on the new date, writes the paper adding that the main problem is the number of the registered UBP's members who will have for the first time the right to vote directly for the new leader of the UBP.

(CS)

[11] Increase in the occupancy of the hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to "ministry's" statistic data, there was an increase of 6.4% in the total hotel occupancy rate of hotels in January-August, compared to last year.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 16.09.15) reported that the "ministry" also announced that there was an increase of 10.1% for January to August 2015 in air and sea travel for the same period when compared to the figures of last year. In August, charter flights from Poland, Slovenia, UK, Iran, France, Italy, Denmark, Hungary and the Czech Republic brought tourists to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

[12] Erdogan attacks 'dishonourable' magazine over 'selfie'

The image produced by Nokta led to the magazine's Istanbul offices being raided by police Monday and every copy seized.

Speaking in a live interview on state broadcaster TRT, Erdogan said: "I have never taken a selfie in my life... and I am not so dishonourable as to turn my back on a martyr's coffin. But those who made this cover are dishonourable, shameful."

The President said that he would do "what is necessary" to pursue those responsible for the image, which shows him in shirt sleeves as a flag-draped coffin carried by soldiers passes behind, and said that he had instructed his legal team.

Asked about freedom of the press to include him in a mocking image, Erdogan said that no-one was entitled to breach an individual's freedom in the name of media freedom. He described the image as an "attack" on himself.

The Turkish penal code makes insulting the President a crime punishable by up to four years imprisonment.

Turning to the renewed Kurdish conflict, Erdogan defended the military operations against PKK terrorists in Cizre, a town near the Syrian and Iraqi borders in southeast Turkey. The town was placed under an eight-day curfew that ended over the weekend.

Erdogan said that the local governor enforced the curfew, which effectively cut the town off from the outside world, for the "peace of people" and to allow the security forces to "easily" conduct anti-terror operations.

"Why is this curfew declared?" he asked. "The streets are banned during certain hours. If someone goes out, he is a terrorist".

He said police and soldiers had been attacked "villainously" by the PKK before the curfew was put in place.

"The world is not sincere in this issue, has always stayed away from us and unfortunately partially supported them [the PKK]," Erdogan said.

[13] Turkey's opposition parties slam probe into Dogan Media Group

"If the right to get informed is limited in a country, then we can't talk about democracy in that country. Hurriyet is the most important newspaper in the world of the press. If the aim of this investigation is to silence Hurriyet and its writers, they should know that they are not powerful enough to accomplish it," Kilicdaroglu said during a live interview on private broadcaster CNNTurk late Sept. 16.

Kilicdaroglu slammed the Justice and Development Party (AKP) over what he described as a three-pronged strategy to intimidate independent media. This strategy, Kilicdaroglu said, involves financial instruments, direct calls to put pressure on journalists, and finally, criminal investigations.

"When they want to silence a newspaper, they instruct the pro-government media to declare that newspaper and its owner as terrorist. 'This is a terrorist, this is a terrorist,' their headlines say, coupled with the photos of journalists. They think that everyone will believe in it," Kilicdaroglu added.

According to Kilicdaroglu, if the AKP cannot succeed in the first two tactics, it moves to the "third method," which is criminal investigations. "If a prosecutor launches a probe over a story published by their tabloids that investigation is not even legal. It is only a shame for democracy," he said, while stressing that Hurriyet is a newspaper "various people with all kinds of political views read".

On the same issue, Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy leader Bulent Tezcan have both condemned the investigation launched into the Dogan Media Group over news reports accused of "making terrorism propaganda".

The oppression on media outlets, their employees and their owners waged by the current government has become unbearable, Bahceli told reporters after a meeting at the MHP headquarters in Ankara on Sept. 15.

Oktay Vural, a deputy head of the MHP's parliamentary group, criticized AKP deputy Abdurrahim Boynukalin, who gave a fiery speech in front of daily Hurriyet on Sept. 6, threatening journalists. "How can there be such a parliamentarian? He is threatening people," Vural said, inquiring whether any prosecutor has done anything regarding the threats. "Their goal is to silence the media," he added.

[14] Davutoglu: HDP must show stance against PKK terror

Speaking in a live TV interview on Wednesday, Davutoglu said that the anti-terror operations against the PKK conducted by the Turkish military are aimed to preserve public safety and democracy. "The PKK terrorists had a major defeat during the operations into their shelters and arsenals. Even the group itself admitted suffering two- thirds of destruction", he added.

When asked about the future of the talks with the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan as part of the reconciliation process, Davutoglu said that the previous talks did not help Turkey reach a peaceful environment and added that fighting against an armed uprising by the PKK while maintaining the reconciliation process in the same time would be dysfunctional.

The prime minister also called on residents living in Turkey's Kurdish-majority provinces in the east and southeast to support democracy by standing against the PKK. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/ LF)

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