Recalling that he will hold bilateral and tripartite meetings with the UNSG in New York, Akinci noted: "The basic target is a constructive spirit and good will. The efforts for shaping Cyprus' future should continue".

Akinci pointed out that no miracles should be expected from his visit to New York and noted that the meeting which they will hold will not be the final one.

Akinci recalled that while the community leaders refer to progress in the negotiations, the UNSG went one step further and stated that "unprecedented progress has been achieved". He argued that "we are at a point which could not be underestimated from the point of view of the progress".

Noting that the "real picture" is that good progress has been achieved on four chapters of the negotiations, Akinci argued: "If we could put a framework in the political sense by the end of 2016 to some issues, the other [issues] and the technical issues could remain for 2017. We want now the road which will take us to the final stage to be drawn. If we can ensure this, it will be positive. I wish to return to Nicosia with good results".

According to the paper, during his visit to New York, Akinci will hold a tripartite meeting with the UNSG and President Anastasiades on 25 September. He will also have bilateral meetings with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the UNSG Ban Ki moon, the US Vice President Jo Biden, the US Secretary of State John Kerry, and the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami, Akinci's spokesman Baris Burcu, his diplomatic and EU councilor, Erhan Ercin, the director of his "office" Cenk Gurcag and the member of his negotiating team 3rd secretary Sertac Guven participate in Akinci's delegation, which is expected to return to Cyprus on 29 September.

(I/Ts.)

[02] The Turkish Cypriot press assesses Akinci's statements to Hurriyet; If no solution is reached in 2016, division will become permanent

According to the paper, asked what will happen if the solution of the Cyprus problem remains for 2017, Akinci reiterated his arguments as regards the elections of 2018 in the Republic of Cyprus and the explorations for natural gas in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone planned to begin in 2017 and alleged that "in this cloud of dust the solution will remain for another time" and then "the two sides will discuss the parameters of the division". He argued that if a solution is reached he will not be able to bring 150 thousand persons from Turkey and grant to them the "citizenship" of the regime just like the Greek Cypriots will not be able to bring 100 thousand persons from Greece and grant citizenship to them. He added: "It is evident what will happen, if there is no agreement. Water came from Turkey. Agriculture will boom here. There will be a need for new labor force. New labor force will come here from Turkey. [?] If there is no solution, the Greek Cypriot side may become neighbor with Turkey on this island. [?]"

Asked whether he wants to say that the occupied area of Cyprus will become a part of Turkey, Akinci replied: "I could not know what kind of a structure will be developed after many years. In case of a non-solution, we, of course, want the continuation of the TRNC. However, the Greek Cypriot side should think well where the non-recognition that lasts for many years, the embargoes, together with the non-solution, will lead this issue".

Asked whether his philosophy is the same as in the Annan Plan as regards the gradual withdrawal of the Turkish [occupation] troops from Cyprus, Akinci replied that "everyone knows that there will be withdrawal [of troops] except for the troops which will remain and that this could happen only gradually". He added, though, that the issue is how many years this gradual withdrawal will last.

Referring to the issue of guarantees, he recalled that the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had also expressed the view that the security of the one side should not constitute threat for the other side and that the guarantees will be regulated according to the new conditions. "For this, an agreed number of Turkish troops should remain here", he alleged and added: "Very well, will Turkey be able to unilaterally interfere? These issues could be debated, because we are at a different point than in the 1960's. I estimate that the unilateral interference today could happen with the will of the Turkish Cypriot people. If the Turkish Cypriot people feel that they are threatened, they can ask for Turkey's help. Turkey, Greece or anyone else will not be able to say 'I am coming and I am interfering'".

Asked to comment on the view that the Greek Cypriots used the 15 July coup attempt in Turkey as an argument to justify their position against the presence of the Turkish army in Cyprus, Akinci claimed that it is true that the Greek Cypriots tried to use this and added that from the very first day he stated that not all the "honorable officers" of the Turkish Army should be condemned. "Therefore, I do not think that they can continue until the end to have a strong argument having a starting point the 15th of July", he alleged.

Replying to a question on the rotating presidency, Akinci argued that "the rotating presidency is one of the indispensable conditions for the Turkish Cypriot people's political equality" and "if the Greek Cypriot side says that the rotating presidency will never become a parameter of the solution, it means that there will be no agreement". "It means that the Turkish Cypriot leader will not sign it and take it in front of the people", he added and alleged that only the periods of the rotating presidency could be discussed on this issue.

Meanwhile, commenting on the above statements to Hurriyet, columnist Sami Ozuslu writes in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen today (20.09.16) that "these statements were a good warning" prior to Akinci departure to New York. Under the title "45 thousand new citizens", he argues, inter alia, the following: "The leadership of the Greek Cypriots might not be able to see that Akinci's scenario is real. If they cannot see the future, it means that there is a problem in their political horizon. If they can see it and in spite of this they ignore it, the responsibility will be heavier. [?]

The ending of the existence of hopes for a solution in Cyprus, is tantamount to the permanent division of the island. It does not seem possible for the TRNC to be recognized as 'separate state' in a permanent division. This is accepted even by the right wing supporters. [?] The 'permanent division' will result in Turkey being further established in the northern part of Cyprus and even in the annexation of this place- if this suits it. This is a summary of what will happen, if there is no solution.

By referring to 'borders [with Turkey], Akinci was not trying to explain nothing else than this reality. Moreover, if no solution is reached by the end of the year, the hopes will be postponed for few years later [and] there will be a rush of new citizenships in the northern part of Cyprus. [?]

Granting citizenship to at least another 45 thousand persons will come onto the agenda. Do not forget that during the last year, Turkey's high ranking officials have expressed these demands. If now this issue was stopped, this is for the sake of the negotiations. If the negotiating process is destroyed, the government's first job will be to register citizens. The UBP and the DP are anyway looking for excuses to do actions which will strengthen the non-solution. It will be well if the leadership of the Greek Cypriots note these in a corner of their mind".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Akinci said that in case of a Cyprus settlement there will be equality to the federal jurisdiction

Touching upon the Cyprus issue during his speech, Akinci said that the agreement to be reached will entail equality to the federal jurisdiction and an equal amount of judges from both sides will take place and added: "The position of the Higher Federal Courts presidency will also rotate equally".

He further said that they are striving to find a solution to the Cyprus problem and argued that if they are successful the Turkish Cypriot "people" will be able to take their rightful place amongst the world and overcome their "victimization", as he claimed.

[04] Ozgurgun reacted to Eide's statements on the guarantee system in Cyprus

In a tweet at his personal account, Ozgurgun claimed: "Eide's manipulative statement regarding the guarantees has surpassed his authority. Unfortunately, there is a need for security more than ever in the modern world".

(DPs)

[05] Ertugruloglu will hold meetings in New York and Washington

According to a press release, Ertugruloglu will attend the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) annual Council of Foreign Ministers' session and a meeting held by the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and will address the participants. The "TRNC" (translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) is an observer member of the OIC and the ECO.

On the occasion of the OIC and ECO meetings, Ertugruloglu will hold "bilateral meetings" with Foreign Ministers; he will also "participate" in the opening of the 71st United Nations General Assembly and will carry out "contacts" with UN officials.

Following his visit to New York, Ertugruloglu will meet with high-level officials from the USA, as well as representatives from think tanks and the media in Washington.

Mustafa Lakadamyali, self-styled undersecretary of the "ministry of foreign affairs", Serap Destegul Redif, self-styled first secretary and Denil Ertug, self-styled ministry officer, are accompanying Ertugruloglu.

(DPs)

[06] Cavusoglu had a series of bilateral meetings in New York

In this context, he met with President Thomson of the UN General Assembly, First Vice-President Timmermans of the European Commission, UN Secretary General's Special Advisor on Cyprus Eide, Foreign Minister Lajcak of Slovakia, Secretary General Jagland of the Council of Europe and US Congressman Engel. He also attended the working dinner on Middle East hosted by the International Peace Institute.

[07] A supporting protest for the woman who was attacked because she was wearing short pants

All the women, who will participate in the protest, have been asked to wear short pants.

Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News newspaper (online, 19.09.16) reported that a court on Sept. 19 ordered the arrest of a man who attacked and injured a young woman on a public bus in Istanbul for wearing shorts on Sept. 12.

Abdullah Cakiroglu was initially detained following the 23-year-old victim's complaint that he kicked her in the face on a public bus in Istanbul for wearing short pants.

Cakiroglu admitted the charge but was released on Sept. 18 by a prosecutor, who decided that the offense of "actual bodily harm" did not fall under the category of an offense that would require an arrest.

However, he was detained with a prosecutor's order once again on Sept. 18 for "spreading hatred and enmity among people" after his release sparked public outrage.

During his police interrogation, Cakiroglu reportedly said: "She was dressed against my traditions. I am receiving psychological treatment. I suddenly kicked [her] impulsively." While leaving the police station for the court, however, the assailant was recorded answering questions from members of the press, saying:

"Friends, everything is under control. There is no problem. I will make the necessary explanation. I was attacked by vandals; 20 leftist terrorists attacked me. Everything happened according to Islamic law."

During his prosecutor's testimony, Cakiroglu reportedly said: "I beat people whose outfits I do not like. The state should punish those who dress like this."

(DPs)

[08] Erdogan: "US has no excuse for keeping a terrorist like Gulen"

Erdogan argued that Washington had "no excuse" for keeping Gulen, who has built up a network of terrorists over decades inside the armed forces and civil service to take over Turkey.

"If the U.S. is our strategic ally and our NATO partner... then they should not let a terrorist like Gulen run his organization," Erdogan said, in an interview with Reuters on the side-lines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations.

The Turkish President said that an initial three-month state of emergency, declared in the wake of the coup, could be extended if necessary. "It can be extended for three months or one month or even more ... Gulen's people have infiltrated everywhere ... We will continue to identify and arrest the plotters ... Extending the state of emergency will help this process," he added.

Erdogan claimed that the EU had failed to meet its obligations despite Turkey's decades-long efforts to join the trading bloc. "Turkey has kept its promises regarding the EU membership process; it is a two-way street and the EU should fulfil its promises ... We have not concluded this process ... We want the EU to be honest about this process," he added.

Erdogan noted also that no lasting peace could be achieved in Syria without the removal of President Bashar al-Assad from power. "The future of Syria should be determined by its own people ... Why is this killer (Assad) being backed by some states?" Erdogan wondered.

"Assad cannot be part of any transitional period ... The world should find a solution that does not involve Assad ... Syria's territorial integrity should be respected by other countries."

[09] New school year begins for millions of students with pro-democracy theme

Students will be informed on the meaning of the coup attempt as well as the significance of the civilian struggle against the pro-coup soldiers on the first week of school. On the first day at school, pupils also observed a minute of silence for pro-democracy activists killed by coup plotters.

For about 18 million students, the new semester brings major changes, most prominently, the assignment of new teachers after thousands were suspended for links to terrorist groups. The suspension of teachers suspected of having ties to the PKK followed the dismissal of teachers with links to Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) which is accused of masterminding the putsch attempt.

This also year brings major changes to Turkey's education as thousands of schools were closed and more than 28,000 teachers were dismissed from duty as part of an anti-terror campaign. To fill the void, authorities hired "unassigned" teachers who had to wait years for an appointment due to a surplus of teachers. Schools run by FETO members were handed over to the state and will continue serving as public schools while students enrolled in those schools were transferred to public schools.

Addressing the students at a school in his hometown Erzincan, Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m emphasized that the government increased the budget earmarked for education to more than TL 100 billion ($33.606 billion) from TL 10 billion in 14 years, and this investment in the future was "far more sustainable than the investment in the infrastructure". "You are the bright future of Turkey. You have seen what the Turkish youth is capable of when they bravely stood against tanks on July 15," Y?ld?r?m said.

Accompanying Y?ld?r?m in Erzincan, the Minister of National Education Ismet Y?lmaz said they would put an emphasis on vocational education this year as Turkey strives to train more skilled manpower to help boost the economic growth. "We have 44% of students in middle education enrolled in vocational education and we aim to increase it to over 50%", Y?lmaz said. The Minister said apprenticeship training and internship will be mandatory for vocational school students, and the state would cover the internship and healthcare fees for vocational school students. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.pio.gov.cy

(DPs /AM)

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