Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-09-13

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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 on the negotiation process

[02] Akinci met with the Italian Foreign Minister

[03] A German expert on property issues suggested the property system to be established after the solution to be fair and prevent injustices

[04] Turkish Cypriot columnist: Sometimes it is as if we are looking for a 'secession' compromise and not a 'common future'

[05] A "KIBRIS" columnist supports that the "coordination office" will be a "state within the state"

[06] Turkish Justice Ministry demands US arrest Gulen over coup attempt

[07] Fifty wounded in PKK car bomb attack in Turkey's Van

[08] Erdogan: Mayors serve people, not support terrorists

[09] The illegal UKU "university" to host an "international conference"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci on the negotiation process

He made these statements while receiving the wishes of the "people" at the "presidential palace" on the occasion of the Kurban Bayram celebrations.

Akinci stated that there are certainly important developments at the negotiations, but at the same time there are important difficulties that must be overcome and added that in order to achieve this everybody must be realists and reasonable. He argues: "Greek Cypriots must be realists and reasonable, not only us. We will both come to realize what is possible to be done or not", he stated. He went on adding that the point reached at the negotiations can be described as "cautiously optimistic" and said that he wishes that soon we could say that we reached "a very good point".

Akinci also said that after the pain that we experienced in Cyprus in the past and the "lakes of blood", we live in peace today but we want to seal this peace with a permanent solution. "This is the reason why we are having negotiations for so many years", he stated and added that this is a "ceasefire situation. "As long as there is not a permanent solution that will satisfy the two sites, new problems can arise, if not today, tomorrow. What is important is to reach a just solution", he said.

Akinci further stated that a long distance was covered during the negotiations and added that the Turkish Cypriot "people" were forced to live without the potentials of a recognized state, he alleged. "We were eliminated for 53 years as a people by a Republic that we were co-partners. They behaved as if this state belonged only to one community and this was accepted by the whole world. The time has come for this injustice to finish", he said adding that every side has expectations and the way to solve this issue is to build a common future with calm and peace. "This is where we are leading at", he stated.

Finally, Akinci stated that difficulties have not come to an end yet and added that he does not want to create great expectations to the "people". Noting that a difficult procedure still lies ahead, he said that as Cypriots they worked with Ananstasiades hard and on detail on a solution plan. He also said that a ready-made recipe will not be imposed on them from above like it happened in the past.

(CS)

[02] Akinci met with the Italian Foreign Minister

The Italian Ambassador to Lefkosia Guido Cerboni escorted the Italian Foreign Minister at the meeting which was held at Akinci's office. No statements were made after the meeting.

(CS)

[03] A German expert on property issues suggested the property system to be established after the solution to be fair and prevent injustices

Stating that the majority of the cases in Germany were solved through compensation, Rodenbach added that from the applications which were submitted demanding the return of property, only 23% had been solved with the method of the return.

Referring to the case of Cyprus, Rodenback stressed the need for the property system to be established after the solution of the Cyprus problem to be fair and prevent injustices. He argued also that the faster the properties are returned and the compensations are provided, the faster the economy will revive.

Explaining the system in Germany, Rodenback said that the "properties obtained with good-intention" are excluded from the concept of the return of properties. "Your system should avoid protecting injustices. If a property is obtained malevolently, then this should be regulated", Rodenback added.

(AK)

[04] Turkish Cypriot columnist: Sometimes it is as if we are looking for a 'secession' compromise and not a 'common future'

"Sometimes it is as if we are looking for a 'secession' compromise and not a 'common future'. Is this a wish for a handshake for 'two separate countries'? We should pass these over! If it could be possible, there would be no [negotiating] table. It is not possible! It is not 'realistic', behold your state is not recognized. Even the land over which you lean down is questionable. In any case the future is in cooperation. [?]

There are communal rights of the Turkish Cypriots which have been 'usurped', no one denies this! However, there are some [rights] which we have 'usurped'! It is not proper to ignore this, passing it over, and not taking it into consideration!

You have a 'partnership' right! In a recognized state. Which belongs to the world! 'Give back my right in the administration', you say, 'because you took it away from me by force'. You ask, but without giving absolutely anything back from what you 'took by force' (!) [?]

Everyone is lying down on the mutually 'injured party', without being very convincing! These 'divided' calculations are not beneficial for a common future!

I saw a communion at the very top: 'Our understanding of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation is a system in which the Turkish Cypriot people will have clear majority of population and property in their own area'. Joint marriages will take place in the future. Where will you write the children? Will we everyday calculate who leased a house, who bought a house, how many children everyone had? For me, bi-zonality is a matter which concerns the administration, [and of] who will administrate each federal structure. Otherwise, the most fundamental freedoms of the EU: movement, residence, work, settlement. 'We will be united' friends, what is this 'secession' calculation?

There is also the 'guarantees' obsession! More than ten years thousands of people pass over to the south every day, every night. No one has the worry of 'life safety' now! What is actually asked is the guarantee of the 'plunder'. And of this system. [?]

All of us are fruits of the same tree. Worms of the same tree. And we are its roots [?] Both the security and guarantees are in the solution! Please lift the shadow of these 'separatist' dreams from the language of peace!"

(I/Ts.)

[05] A "KIBRIS" columnist supports that the "coordination office" will be a "state within the state"

Baturay writes: "However, I said that the 'EU coordination centre' is not similar in any administrative way with the 'coordination office' and for this reason I cannot accept this criticism". He added that the criticism comes from people like the "prime minister" Huseyin Ozgurgun, who said that "those who do not object the 'EU coordination centre', oppose to the 'coordination office'", who actually he wanted to say "Of course, the people from the same circles accept this and criticize us".

Baturay stressed that the "government officials" tried to present the issue as there are circles who say "yes" to the EU and "no" to Turkey, but that it's not the case, because the two above "offices" function in a very different way.

He explained that the "EU Coordination Centre" does not impose anything in the Turkish Cypriot community, but there are funds from the EU for the Turkish Cypriot community and the money from these funds are distributed in projects. Baturay further writes that these projects are only carried out if the conditions are met, adding that there is not imposition but only contribution to these projects. The "EU coordination centre" contributes in many sectors like agriculture, stockbreeding, education, environment and health. There is no imposition to anyone, those who have a compelling project apply to the "EU coordination centre" for funds and make use of this contribution.

However, Baturay writes that the "agreement regarding the establishment of overseas youth and sports coordination office between Turkey and TRNC (translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus)" is an imposition to the core. He added: "This office will disable the departments of sport and youth? All the necessary projects and implementations carried by these two departments will be determined by the 'coordination office'? All the youth camps, the camps that will be made and the management of these camps will be transferred to the 'coordination office'? All the sport facilities and the management of these facilities will be transferred to this 'coordination office'? All the dorms, which are in our country, and the permissions and decrees of the dorms that will be made in the future, will be transferred to this 'office'? The chief of this office will be appointed by Turkey?The staff recruitment of the personnel working in this office will be done by Turkey's government? The officials, who will come from Turkey for this office, will have diplomatic privileges? The projects, even those that will be submitted by 'TRNC', will be able to be implemented only if they are approved by the office? The TRNC state is obliged to give all the data that the office wants? the TRNC state will not be able to stipulate a prohibition to the projects or works of this office?

Now, let us see what the similarities are between the 'office' and the 'centre'."

Baturay concludes, by writing, that there is nothing in common between how the "EU coordination centre" functions with how the "Coordination office" will function. He stressed that the "coordination office" will be a "state within the state".

(DPs)

[06] Turkish Justice Ministry demands US arrest Gulen over coup attempt

The sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said that the written official request claimed that the July 15 coup attempt was carried out under "his command and control".

The letter stated that the coup attempt was carried out with the instructions of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999.

"This person who ordered the July 15, 2016 bloody coup and committed many other crimes has been sought for arrest", the official request said.

The request also included Ankara chief prosecutor's warrant for Gulen's arrest.

Turkey has repeatedly demanded Gulen's extradition following the attempted takeover, with U.S. officials insisting that they can only extradite him if Turkey presents proof regarding his direct involvement in the coup attempt.

[07] Fifty wounded in PKK car bomb attack in Turkey's Van

PKK militants detonated a bomb-laden vehicle parked near a police checkpoint in front of the provincial headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the central Besyol area at 10:50 a.m., the Van Governor's Office said in a statement.

Van Governor Ibrahim Tasyapan announced that 50 people, including four police officers and four Iranian citizens, were wounded in the attack, which was carried out in one of the city's busiest spots during the Islamic holiday. He also added that two of the wounded were in critical condition.

Meanwhile, the attack drew condemnations from the ruling AKP government as well as many main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputies.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the attack could not achieve its ultimate goal due to precautions taken at police checkpoints with barricades.

Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canlikli said that with the attack the PKK had turned to directly targeting civilians and innocent people, a sign showing that they had begun to falter.

In the opposition ranks, CHP deputy head and Ordu deputy Seyit Torun condemned the attack, saying it was extremely saddening that such attack was staged during an Islamic holiday.

The party's Deputy head, Ozturk Y?lmaz, said such attacks would never be accepted by society, urging for calm and caution against provocations.

Early on Sept. 12, two PKK militants, who were in preparation for an attack, were killed during clashes with special operations police in the province's Ipekyolu district.

The attack also comes after a government move to replace 28 local Mayors with trustees for their alleged links to terror organizations, including the PKK.

Four district municipality Mayors in Van had been replaced by either deputy governors or district governors on Sept. 11, as part of a recent decree law the under state of emergency following the July 15 failed coup attempt.

[08] Erdogan: Mayors serve people, not support terrorists

"Of course this is not a new thing. For me, it is a long-overdue step. It should have been taken earlier. This was also my wish previously," Erdogan told reporters after prayers at an Istanbul mosque on the first day of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha.

"Being elected as a Mayor doesn't mean that you can give support to terrorist organizations as Mayors or as a municipal council. You do not have such authority. You are only obliged to provide service, including investments in infrastructure, to citizens living within your town or area of responsibility," he said, accusing the replaced mayors of lending support to terrorist organizations.

Yildirim, meanwhile, did not rule out further new replacement trustee appointments in municipalities. "Of course, there may be [new appointments]. The principle here is that municipalities and local administrations are the closest administration units to the nation. What is their purpose? Carrying out their duties for citizens with the votes they get from citizens in provinces, districts and towns, fulfilling their needs," Yildirim said, claiming that some municipalities had engaged in unlawful acts and provided support to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

On the same issue, HDN also reports that Yildirim and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu have criticized as "unacceptable" a statement by the U.S. Embassy in Ankara regarding the controversial appointment of trustees to a number of municipalities in Turkey's east on terrorism charges and the clashes that erupted in the aftermath.

Yildirim claimed that all mayors replaced on Sept. 11 had provided support to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), saying it was unacceptable for the embassy to try to "give Turkey a democracy lesson".

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Soylu claimed that the embassy's statement amounted to an "intervention in Turkey's domestic affairs". "The statement made by an Ambassador on Sunday saddened us. We see it as an intervention into Turkey's domestic affairs and find such an evaluation unacceptable," Soylu said on Sept. 12 during an Eid visit in the eastern province of Mus.

In a statement on Sept. 11, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara had expressed its concerns in the aftermath of clashes in some southeastern provinces following the removal of Mayors and assignment of trustees to 28 municipalities predominantly in Turkey's east and southeast.

Under the title "Intel reports detail alleged links between dismissed mayors, PKK", HDN (online, 13.09.16) reports that intelligence reports contain details about a number of incidents used in the decision to suspend 28 Mayors across Turkey over alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) or U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen.

According to the intelligence reports, some of the municipalities from which the 28 Mayors were suspended had transported groups of PKK militants, built public gardens in memory of killed PKK militants, or transported ammunition and arms to the PKK.

[09] The illegal UKU "university" to host an "international conference"

The conference will take place between October 13-14 at the Acapulco Hotel in occupied Keryneia.

According to the paper, the conference is co-organized by the illegal UKU, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the State University of New York and the "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Architects and Engineers" ("KTMMOB).

Academicians, researchers and experts from several universities will attend the conference and deliver speeches, writes the paper.

(AK) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs /AM)

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