Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-03-02

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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 reacted over Dombrovskis' visit in Cyprus and the fact that he will hold only a courtesy meeting with him

[02] The breakaway regime assesses a decision by an American court for a property in occupied Cyprus

[03] Kalyoncu will discuss with Davutoglu ways to support the Cyprus negotiations during his visit to Ankara

[04] Reactions to the signing of the water agreement continue

[05] Denktas: The Cyprus negotiations will be led to a dead-end

[06] Benter: "The closed city of Maras belongs to Evkaf"

[07] Occupancy of five-star hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus has reached to 55% for the month of February

[08] Top judge replied to Erdogan: "Rules are binding for everyone"

[09] Kilicdaroglu called Erdogan a 'narcissist'

[10] HDP co-chair probed for calling on locals to march to restive Sur

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci reacted over Dombrovskis' visit in Cyprus and the fact that he will hold only a courtesy meeting with him

Speaking during an event in the occupied area of Cyprus, Akinci explained that the European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis who is responsible to coordinate the Turkish Cypriot's harmonization process with the EU, will pay a 2-3 day visit in the island, will hold several contacts in the "south" and hold a press conference.

Commenting on the fact that Dombrovskis will pay a 15 minutes courtesy visit in the "TRNC", Akinci said: "I want to openly say the following: If they will carry out this kind of visits, it would be better not to come at all. We are serious and we want those visiting us to be serious as well. The normal thing would be the one who is responsible to prepare the Turkish Cypriot side for the EU, to carry out contacts here. To come and hear us, learn about our sensitivities; this is their main responsibility. It should be made known that we will not accept such approaches".

(AK)

[02] The breakaway regime assesses a decision by an American court for a property in occupied Cyprus

The lawsuit had been filed in 2009 and ended on 30 September 2014 in favor of the regime, notes the "ministry" in a written statement issued yesterday, noting that afterwards the plaintiffs took the decision of the lower court to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, which on 15 January 2016 also ruled in favor of the regime.

According to the statement, the Court decided that the issues regarding the property in dispute were not entering into the scope of the Court's authority and that none of the plaintiff's allegations could be proved.

The "ministry" alleges that the above-mentioned decision constitutes an important precedent and could be a basis for other cases in the USA or other countries. Claiming that they respect the property right of everyone living on the island, the "ministry" alleges that searching in courts for a solution to "politically controlled cases" on the property issue is not a correct method.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Kalyoncu will discuss with Davutoglu ways to support the Cyprus negotiations during his visit to Ankara

Kalyoncu made these statements yesterday at the illegal Tymbou airport, prior to his departure to Turkey. The self-styled prime minister is holding today a meeting in Ankara with Davutoglu in order to sign the agreement reached with Turkey on the water issue on behalf of the breakaway regime.

Referring to the water agreement, Kalyoncu stated that the agreement is extremely important since it will help towards the prosperity of the "country". He also expressed the hope that "the water of peace to be shared with the Greek Cypriots in the future".

The paper writes that Kalyoncu and Davutoglu will also discuss economic issues during their meeting. "We are asking for support in order to establish an economy that will be able to stand on its own feet [?] and for reforms to be made towards this direction", Kalyoncu stated.

Kalyoncu is escorted by the "foreign minister" Emine Colak, the "agriculture and natural resources minister" Erkuk Sahali and the "culture minister" Kutlu Evren along with various "bureaucrats".

(CS)

[04] Reactions to the signing of the water agreement continue

Moreover, TDP's chairman Cemal Ozygit also called on Kalyoncu not to sign the "agreement" which he described as "treachery against the Turkish Cypriot people". In statements to the press yesterday, Ozyigit said that if Kalyoncu signs the "agreement", the TDP will not abandon its struggle on the water issue.

Describing the water from Turkey as "a great need for the country" and thanking everybody who contributed to the project, Ozyigit argued that the Turkish Cypriots are ready to buy, distribute and control the water. Accusing the self-styled government of succumbing to impositions on this issue, he expressed the view that the second text of the "agreement" is different from the first only in words. He noted that the "municipalities" will "lose their functionality", pointing out that "the company will collect even the local revenues of the municipalities".

Furthermore, the so-called Water Platform, which consists of 40 organizations, handed over a letter yesterday to Kalyoncu's office saying that they will never allow the privilege regarding the administration and the operation of the water to be given to a private company. The organizations expressed the view that the water should be administered by protecting the interests of the public and the future generations and not the interests of private companies or persons.

Finally, in a written statement on the issue, Sener Elcil, general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOS), described the "agreement", which Kalyoncu will sign today, as a "second Treaty of Sevres", accusing the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) of doing things which "submissive" parties such as the National Unity Party and the Democratic Party do not dare to do.

Elcil noted that the "assembly' established after the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus for "administrating" the Turkish Cypriots has been turned into a mechanism which materializes Turkey's integration policies. He argued that Ankara brings to the "government" whichever party it desires and uses the "elections" in the occupied area of the island for deceiving the world.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Denktas: The Cyprus negotiations will be led to a dead-end

Denktas expressed the opinion that issues like the sovereignty, the guarantees and the property will lead the Cyprus negotiations to a dead-end. He also said that his party will never abandon "this state and its people", as he said.

He went on and stated that by the end of 2016 a referendum will be conducted for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Finally, Denktas said that the "coalition government" of the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) has no future.

(CS)

[06] Benter: "The closed city of Maras belongs to Evkaf"

Speaking on a radio program in the occupied area of Cyprus, Benter argued that most of the properties owned by the Evkaf had been improperly and unlawfully handed over to others during the island's British colonial rule.

"When the island was rented to the British in 1878, 14% of the properties on the island belonged to the Evkaf Administration. Today the total percentage of Vak?f or Evkaf owned property has dropped to 6%. The area covering the closed city of Maras [Varosha] falls within that 14%", Benter claimed.

Explaining that a deal of high level experts had carried out a study in 2009 to determine the number of Vak?f owned properties, Benter said that the deal signed with the British in 1878 clearly stated that Evkaf properties could not be sold or transferred to others. "We have all the title deeds and legal documents to back up our claim" he argued.

[07] Occupancy of five-star hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus has reached to 55% for the month of February

Also, smaller hotels recorded occupancy of 32% for February 2016, which was also an increase of 15% compared to the same month last year. On average, all hotels had a 44% occupancy rate on February this year and compared to 2015 this was on average an increase of 11% for that period.

(AK)

[08] Top judge replied to Erdogan: "Rules are binding for everyone"

Arslan made the above statement following critical statements from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over a ruling that led to the release of two journalists, Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Can Dundar and Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul who were arrested in late 2015 over a news report about trucks allegedly carrying weapons to Syria.

"The rulings the Constitutional Court issues within its authorization defined by the laws in the Constitution are binding for everybody and every institution. This is a constitutional rule," Arslan said.

Erdogan said he would neither accept nor respect the ruling issued by the Constitutional Court late February 25 that provided the legal ground for the release of Dundar and Gul hours after the ruling.

(?)

Arslan also said that the court rulings could be criticized, while condemning what he described as imaginary conversations created to depict the Constitutional Court as a judiciary body whose rulings depend on personal judgments.

"Justices are not sacred beings. Hence, court rulings can and should be criticized. Otherwise, the law could not be developed further. We, for this reason, respect any sort of criticisms against our rulings. However, I strongly condemn and reject any statements and comments directed at myself and our personnel with imaginary dialogues that imply that our court issues rulings based on personal judgments," Arslan added.

[09] Kilicdaroglu called Erdogan a 'narcissist'

Kilicdaroglu expressed "sadness" over Erdogan's decision "not to respect or recognize" the Constitutional Court's ruling.

"The President of a country should set a model for the society and should obey the judiciary and the law. But if his or her narcissism shows up then he doesn't recognize any rule, because what he says is the law itself. He doesn't comply with the law, the Constitution, or any of the other rules", Kilicdaroglu noted.

"What is the law? The law is the assurance of all living people in a society. Who distributes the law? The courts," K?l?cdaroglu said, responding to reporters' questions during a visit to the Union of Chambers of Certified Accountants of Turkey (TURMOB).

[10] HDP co-chair probed for calling on locals to march to restive Sur

"We do not view a 24-hour war being waged in the center of a city for three months as an ordinary situation. All Diyarbak?r residents should rise up in order to lift the blockade in Sur. Everyone should march towards Sur from their residences on March 2 at 4 p.m.," Demirtas had said at a press conference, urging locals to be "resolute in calling for their democratic rights."

Sur has been under military curfew amid clashes for over three months.

In December 2015, two separate investigations were launched into the HDP co-chair over his remarks calling for "autonomy." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK/AM)

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