Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-09-22

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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 briefs civilian organizations on the negotiating process

[02] Akinci is leaving for New York on September 28th

[03] Turkes illegally visited the occupied area of Cyprus; Protest was organized against him by the Grey Wolves

[04] Kutlay Erk lambasts visiting Turkish Minister Turkes

[05] Colak: The EU process is progressing well and positively

[06] Talat and Ozgurgun discussed with Harmanci the water transfer project

[07] The remains of twenty missing persons were found

[08] Sertoglu: "Our membership to KOP is in a blockage"

[09] AKP officially launches election campaign with candidate presentation; it has less female candidates than the June 7 vote

[10] HDP slams Erdogan and Davutoglu for ignoring Kurdish issue

[11] Probe opened for 94 people two years after Gezi protests

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci briefs civilian organizations on the negotiating process

Akinci said that the process is being held within the framework of the joint declaration between President Anastasiades and former Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu and the high level agreements of 1977-79. Noting that the joint declaration describes the existing situation as unacceptable having negative consequences on both communities, Akinci said that all issues are on the negotiating table and the chapters are interdependently discussed.

Akinci noted that united Cyprus will be a member of the EU with a single international legal identity and a single citizenship. The powers of the government, he added, will be determined in the constitution and there will be two founding states, which will not interfere into each other's powers. He said that the solution will be bi-zonal and at the same time the principles on which the EU is founded will be protected.

Akinci reiterated that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed and that after an agreement is reached between the leaders, this agreement will be submitted to a referendum. He said that the leaders will be meeting as often as it is necessary as of November. He argued that they will achieve a successful result if they reach an agreement and submit it to a referendum before the parliamentary elections in the government-controlled area of Cyprus in May 2016.

Referring to the natural gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, Akinci argued that if they are not used wisely they could constitute a threat, but if they are used wisely "they can produce solutions, there can be a contribution to solutions". Noting that the amount found in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone is not very big, but Egypt's and Israel's resources are very rich, he argued that all experts agree that after a solution is found in Cyprus, all these will be transferred to Turkey and Europe through an energy corridor.

Pointing out to the importance of improving the relations between Turkey and Israel, Akinci argued that the trade relations between the two countries continue. He claimed that some Turkish companies have met with President Anastasiades.

Referring to the agreement between the leaders on the cell phones issue, Akinci said that some obstacles have not been overcome yet and that after some demands put by the regulator's office in the government-controlled area of the Republic are satisfied, everybody will be able to use their cell phones on the entire island.

Akinci noted that they continue working on the connection of the electricity network, that the issue of bringing electricity from Turkey was discussed and that they provide for an infrastructure by which all sides will benefit.

Noting that they achieved progress on the chapter of governance and power sharing, Akinci said that they have not agreed on the issue of the rotating presidency. Akinci expressed the belief that the Greek Cypriot side will agree on this point and noted that this was included in the Annan Plan and was approved in the process that followed. He added:

"I said that I see it as a result of our political equality. We will have an equal number in the Senate. There will be some special laws which will require autonomous majority. I am optimistic that we will ensure a solution which will include our political equality. There will not be a serious problem. There are principles on which we must emphasize: The political equality, living freely and living in security".

Referring to the issue of guarantees, he said that this is one of the six chapters in the negotiations, it concerns the guarantor powers as well and will be discussed by all five parties together (the three guarantor powers and the two communities). He said that this issue has been left for the very end. He added:

"Let us build the structure we want to be guaranteed. Some guarantees will be discussed within this structure itself. [?] The five parties will come together and discuss this issue. It is meaningless to bring this issue onto the agenda in a speculative manner from now. Greece says 'I am not interested'. Britain says something like 'I am not interested, but my bases will continue to exist'. The stance of these two countries is important. The sensitivity of the Turkish Cypriot people is important. The Turkish Cypriot people must feel secure. Formulas in which all sides will be secure and not feel that they are threatened can be discussed".

Referring to the property issue, Akinci said that the territory and names of villages or percentages have not been discussed. He noted that no map has been put onto the table. He said that there was an attempt to put a map on the table, but they did not accept it. "This issue will come onto the agenda, but it did not come yet", he added pointing out that progress was achieved on the governance and power sharing, the EU and the economy.

"There are still three important and thorny chapters: the property, the territory and the security-guarantees", he said adding that there was a categorization on the property issue and that 22 categories of properties were determined.

Noting that confusion was caused by a statement they had made, Akinci pointed out that some persons tried to use this statement saying that the Greek Cypriots' property right was recognized and all of you will be thrown out. He said that what was recognized is something which had been recognized for years. "The reason for the establishment of the Property Compensation Commission derives from the recognition of the individuals' property right", he argued adding that there are five ways of using this right: compensation, exchange, alternative property, or partial return.

He added: "[?] There is a new development helping the solution. While time does not contribute to the solution, the time that passes helps. 75% says that I will either sell [the property] or I will be compensated. This was an issue solved by time. If 160 thousand persons had really migrated from the north, a part of those who migrated are not alive 41 years later. Their children are around 50 years old. They have established a totally different life in the south and are not thinking of returning to the north. They want compensation and exchange. Just like we want for the property we have left in the south. [?] If we are able to solve the property issue, in case we form criteria which will ensure that the Turkish Cypriots will be the majority in the sense of population and property in the north, we will have eliminated a very important obstacle. The devil will be hidden in the criteria. A commission will be established. [?] The individuals will not settle this issue between them [?]"

(I/Ts.)

[02] Akinci is leaving for New York on September 28th

Akinci will be in NY until Sunday 4th of October. Akinci will also hold a meeting with the US Vice President John Kerry as well as others.

[03] Turkes illegally visited the occupied area of Cyprus; Protest was organized against him by the Grey Wolves

Turkes claimed that the "issue of the Turks of Cyprus" is a priority for Turkey and that "this priority and interest does not intent to interfering, but to the Turkish Cypriot people living prosperous and free".

Referring to the situation in the occupied area of Cyprus Turkes alleged that the "coalition" between the two biggest parties is a "good sign of democracy" and added that they could not do this in Turkey and therefore they will hold elections.

During his visit, Turkes met with Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, the "speaker" of the "assembly", Sibel Siber, self-styled prime minister, Omer Kalyoncu and the two former Turkish Cypriot leaders, Dervis Eroglu and Mehmet Ali Talat.

Akinci said that he is pleased with the fact that a person of Cypriot origin was appointed responsible of Cypriot affairs and wished for Turkes' candidature in the elections to be successful. Pointing out to the importance of tranquility and stability in Turkey, Akinci said that Turkey's becoming strong and that developing in peace and democracy is of great importance for the Turkish Cypriots.

Both Siber and Kalyoncu also wished success to Turkes in the elections and expressed the hope for him to continue being at this duty and meet them more often.

In his statements, Talat told Turkes that Cyprus is an important place for Turkey due to the Cyprus problem and all the other economic, social and political activities and expressed his satisfaction with Turkes' visit, describing him as "a Cypriot".

Finally, Eroglu told Turkes that there has always been a "good dialogue" between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. He noted that they have always been showing Turkey "as "the motherland" to the youth, but "recently some "different voices" are heard. He wished for the new "authorities" of the regime to act realizing that "some things cannot happen without Turkey" and that no one at the negotiating table can act saying that "let a solution be reached regardless of what kind of a solution will be or let me solve the problem and the world to applaud me". He said that he will submit a note to Turkes regarding his view on the Cyprus problem.

Turkes replied that because Eroglu is a person who closely knows the issues concerning the Turkish Cypriots, he believes that his "sensitivities' will be taken into consideration.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (22.09.15) reports that the Grey Wolves in the occupied area of Cyprus protested against Turkes, because he resigned from the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and joined the Justice and Development Party (AKP). They held placards accusing him of selling their "cause" and betraying his father Alpraslan Turkes' name [Translator's note: Alparslan Turkes is the founder of MHP and the Grey Wolves].

(I/Ts.)

[04] Kutlay Erk lambasts visiting Turkish Minister Turkes

Akinci stated during the meeting that he found it positive that a Turkish Minister with Cypriot roots was on island. Erk criticised this by saying that he was unable to find anything positive about Turkes being the minister responsible for Cyprus and having Cypriot roots. He said he was opposed to the ideology that Turkes held close and would continue to be opposed to fascism. Erk added that he would never forget the Turkish Cypriot revolutionary students who had been killed by such fascists. Finally Erk apologised if he had failed in respect of Tugrul Turkes.

[05] Colak: The EU process is progressing well and positively

The opening speeches were delivered by the Head of the EU Programme Support Office Michela Foresti and the self-styled undersecretary of the transportation ministry Suat Yeldener and the self-styled foreign minister Emine Colak.

Addressing the panel, Colak said that transportation is important in many areas of life and the efficiency of transportation influences the understanding of the commercial life, the quality of daily life, the environment, as well as the aesthetic of urbanism.

Explaining that they see such activities which aim at the increasing of sensitivity to the EU as part of the aim to the EU harmonization, Colak added that the EU harmonization is not only amending the laws but also internalizing the rules of the EU and understanding the standards of the EU.

Noting that adopting the philosophy and understanding of the EU is an urgent need, Colak explained that the "EU harmonization group" is established and continues its work towards this direction.

Noting that the process, which started for the full accession of Cyprus as a whole to the EU, is progressing well, Colak said that this process encourages great hopes for everyone. She also said that undertaking the EU requirements as tasks and taking advantage of the EU is also a part of the job.

(DPs)

[06] Talat and Ozgurgun discussed with Harmanci the water transfer project

According to information given by the press office of the (CTP-BG), Talat stated during the meeting that a new independent and autonomous organization will be formed for the control of the water to be transferred from Turkey and for the other water resources.

Concerning the administration of the water from Turkey, Talat stated that the "government" has in its agenda a comprehensive water policy. Explaining that the new organization would be independent and not a "state organ", Talat added that the "water affairs department" will continue to control the catchment areas, planning of reclamation areas and improve underground water resources.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Gunes newspaper (22.09.15) reports that the leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) Huseyin Ozgurgun met also yesterday with Harmanci.

According to statements issued by the UBP's press office, Ozgurgun emphasized the importance of the water transfer project and said that the water to be transferred from Turkey to Cyprus is a great project which could benefit not only the Turkish Cypriots but the whole of Cyprus.

Referring to the administration of the water, Ozgurgun said that preparatory work should be made and added that this issue should be solved between Turkey and the "TRNC".

(?)

(AK)

[07] The remains of twenty missing persons were found

Murat Soysal - Assistant to the Turkish Cypriot Member of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) ? said that they think that the human remains belong to the Greek Cypriot soldiers which were inside the first truck.

Soysal said that despite finding the remains of twenty people the excavations are carried out, following information for the place. He stressed that on this site Greek Cypriot soldiers, who died in the war, were transferred with two trucks and buried there. He added that the remains found belonged only to the one truck and they continue their efforts to find the remains from the second truck.

(DPs)

[08] Sertoglu: "Our membership to KOP is in a blockage"

Stating that during the meeting they the day before with the chairman and other officials of KOP, they conveyed to them their readiness to become members of KOP, Sertoglu added that the chairman of KOP, Mr. Kostakis Koutsokoumnis has said for the first time that the "KTFF" cannot be accepted as a member of KOP since they do not have any documents that certify that the "KTFF" has been established in 1955.

Sertoglu said that they are thinking to carry out a trip to the UK after the Bayram feast, in order to make the necessary search in the UK's archives and find proofs towards the establishment of the "KTFF".

(AK)

[09] AKP officially launches election campaign with candidate presentation; it has less female candidates than the June 7 vote

"In three months, we have encountered a lot of obstacles. As of the morning of June 8, a 'bloc' debate was launched. They said that 'The anti-AK Party bloc seized the majority in parliament and the AK Party's years in power ended.' The 258 brave men stood tall in the face of these blocs," Davutoglu said, addressing the gathering on Sept. 21 while referring to the 258 seats his party won in the June 7 elections.

When compared to the AKP's candidate list for the 550-seated parliament in the June 7 election, only 312 of those who were nominated on June 7 were nominated again for the Nov. 1 snap elections. Meanwhile, the AKP, which nominated 99 women in the June 7 vote, this time nominated 69 women.

[10] HDP slams Erdogan and Davutoglu for ignoring Kurdish issue

"If Turkey doesn't have a Kurdish issue, then only one thing remains: There is the problem of an irresponsible president and an unauthorized prime minister," HDP spokesperson Ayhan Bilgen told reporters on Sept. 21, after he was reminded of certain controversial remarks delivered by both Erdogan and Davutoglu during the rally.

Reporters recalled that Erdogan had said, "No matter which party they are from, I want you to send 550 local and national deputies to parliament on Nov. 1," referring to the Nov. 1 snap elections, and also, "We have arrived at a point where we can say there is no longer a Kurdish issue in Turkey; the current issue is a terror problem."

[11] Probe opened for 94 people two years after Gezi protests

Public Prosecutor Cevdet Aydemir opened a probe for 94 people who attended a protest in the western province of Izmir in June 2013, seeking prison terms up to six years for each with charges of violating assembly and demonstrations laws.

The Gezi Park incidents began as a peaceful protest against a shopping mall construction project in Istanbul's central Taksim neighbourhood before turning into country-wide protests against the government. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/ LF)

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