Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-09-14

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

CONTENTS

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] "Akinci: The Cyprus problem cannot continue in this manner for another 50 years. All sides concerned are tired"

[02] Akinci met with Erhurman and Ozyigit; They expect a "reference to the Turkish Cypriot efforts for a solution" in the UN report on Cyprus

[03] The occupation army closes the occupied Deryneia beach for conducting shooting manoeuvres

[04] "Turkey needs to do some serious talking with the Turkish Cypriots"

[05] Ertugruloglu met with the Archbishop of the Maronites

[06] Ozyigit: "We are opposed to two-state solution"; "The persistence on the Saudi Arabia time zone is a public enmity"

[07] KTAMS chairman called the "people" to resist on the continuation of the summer time

[08] Saner held contacts in Ankara

[09] The employees in the field of religion support Atalay

[10] Turkish Foreign Ministry: "There will be a price to pay' if KRG insists on referendum"

[11] Erdogan heralds S-400 missile deal with Russia

[12] President Erdogan urges AKP mayors once again for crucial 2019 polls

[13] Celik: "Turkey, UK 'give direction' to Europe's politics"

[14] Turkey's tourism needs long time to fully recover, says research firm

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] "Akinci: The Cyprus problem cannot continue in this manner for another 50 years. All sides concerned are tired"

There is no full stop in diplomacy. Either a semi colon or a comma is put and it continues. It should be known that no one intends to continue in the same manner for another 50 years in the Cyprus problem. All sides concerned are tired. The Turks of Cyprus have been victimized the most by this. The need for a solution in Cyprus has not been abolished. As long as the problem continues, the need for a solution also continues.

I think that there is a very serious need for a change of mentality mainly in the Greek Cypriot side. Presidential elections will take place during the next year. These elections should be a serious period of questioning on the issue of what they really want. Will they see the power sharing in a federal solution as a big concession or they will digest it? Do they really believe in a Cyprus on the basis of equality or they see it as a transitional stage?

Next week we will meet with the UNSG in New York. Our views are clear. We will not abandon our solution focused policy. However, we also do not intend to enter again into an open-ended process with an uncertain result. It is meaningless to expect a solution while elections continue in the Greek Cypriot side. It will be shaped according to the result which will come out from there. Life does also not stop. I believe that there are things to be done both by us as TRNC and by you as Turkey.

I commemorate our victims who lost their lives on 15 July one year ago during the coup attempt in Turkey. Our biggest wish as Turkish Cypriot people, who have since the very first day took the side of the political administration against the coup, is for Turkey to bind up its wounds. […]

I believe that the EU target is one of our many common denominators as businessmen and politicians gathered here. […] We want the realization of this target for a higher quality life both for us the Turkish Cypriots and for you in Turkey. We want the food we consume to be healthier, the environment to be better, a humane system based on the rule of law, [and] the democratic rules to be valid instead of arbitrariness. […]

We should not abandon these targets. I think that Turkey not abandoning the EU target is important for the Turks of Cyprus, and that the Turkish Cypriots not abandoning the target of the solution is important for you.

I think that it is important for the Nicosia Economic Forum, materialized by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, the south Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Turkey's Chamber of Commerce and Greek officials, to continue being alive during this period. […]

It is extremely important to materialize various reforms needed in the TRNC for years and not to abandon and forget on the shelves the decisions previously taken […]".

Referring to the same issue, illegal Bayrak television (14.09.17, online, http://www.brtk.net/?videopost=akinci-cozumden-vazgecmedik-ama-50-yil-daha-bekleyemeyiz) broadcast that Akinci alleged that "an important opportunity" has been wasted in Geneva, Mont Pelerin and Crans Montana, that a serious progress and convergences had been achieved during the first year of his term in "office" and that in September 2016 they came face to face with a "different Greek Cypriot leadership" and an interlocutor, who was allegedly not willing for a solution and far from being realistic.

Akinci also claimed that during all processes and mainly in the five-party conference, the Greek Cypriot side had been based on the "assumption that the Turkish Cypriot leadership and Turkey will not show the necessary flexibility". He alleged that the Greek Cypriot side used delaying tactics, in spite of the fact that the Turkish side has exhibited an approach focused on the solution.

Criticizing the statement allegedly made by the Greek Cypriot side regarding "zero troops zero guarantees", Akinci claimed that the Turkish side said that it was ready to readjust the Treaty of Guarantee to the current conditions, but the respond to this approach was a "maximalist stance".

Akinci argued that they will not abandon the target of the solution, but added that regardless of achieving a solution they should create a structure with a stronger economy and democracy. He finally alleged that they are obliged to advance their "foreign relations", to exert efforts for lifting the "unjust embargoes" and develop a climate for investments.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Akinci met with Erhurman and Ozyigit; They expect a "reference to the Turkish Cypriot efforts for a solution" in the UN report on Cyprus

In statements after the meeting, Erhurman said that reaching a result with the method used in the negotiations was not possible and argued that the UN "should reformulate a result oriented method". He also claimed that the UN should prepare an "objective" report, which will be reflecting the realities regarding what had happened in Crans Montana, because, a "confusion" on this issue allegedly exists due to the election campaign in the government-controlled area of the island.

Erhurman argued that as a result of his meetings with the general secretary of AKEL left-wing party and the Turkish Cypriot leader, he does not think that it is realistic to expect the resumption of the negotiations before the completion of the 2018 presidential elections. He expressed the view that the UNSG's meeting with the leaders in New York will be "a kind of preparation" for the period after the elections. He added: "We wish the continuation of the negotiations after the elections within the framework of the parameters, but both we and the UN clearly see that we could not reach a result with this method. […]"

In his statements, Ozyigit said that they expect that the UNSG report on Cyprus will be "objective". "We want the efforts of the Turkish Cypriot community under the leadership of Mr Akinci to be included clearly in this report", he added and argued that his party wishes the continuation of the negotiations in the same direction without abandoning the UN parameters. He further expressed the view that no activity could be expected before the presidential elections in the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[03] The occupation army closes the occupied Deryneia beach for conducting shooting manoeuvres

This beach had been used for years only by the occupation army but this year was opened for Turks and "TRNC citizens", who can enter by showing their identity card. The paper recalls that on 26 August the occupation army had not given permission to journalists of Yeni Duzen and the illegal Bayrak television to take pictures at the beach.

(I/Ts.)

[04] "Turkey needs to do some serious talking with the Turkish Cypriots"

"Mustafa Ak?nc?, the president of Turkish Cyprus, is scheduled to speak today at a conference organized by the Economic Development Foundation (IKV).

Following the collapse of peace talks, it must be difficult for someone like Ak?nc?, who built his whole political career on the reunification of the island, to keep optimism high. His task was already complicated as he was sharing power with a government unenthusiastic about the peace talks and in favor of the continuation of the status quo.

The Turkish government probably is facing, on the one hand, a president who would prefer not to think about an alternative strategy and wait for the aftermath of the elections in Greek Cyprus with the hope of resuming talks, and on the other, a government that would see no problem continuing the status quo as the benefits of the system suits perfectly those at the ruling positions.

But the status quo is untenable, as Turkish Cypriots continue residing on legally controversial lands and properties.

For years the Turkish side was labelled as the one obstructing reunification talks. With the policies of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), this image was reversed and in the course of the last decade, the Turkish side has shown its good will for a permanent settlement.

In the absence of a settlement, now say some, it is time to take steps that will legitimize the situation with the help of the Greek Cypriots who are willing to solve the problem of their remaining properties in the north on a unilateral basis. For there are many Greek Cypriots who are willing to turn their properties in the north into cash through the immovable property commission that was defined by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as an acceptable domestic remedy.

Yet the commission stopped working effectively as the flow of cash from Ankara stopped with the expectation that intercommunal talks would end with a settlement. Following the collapse of the talks, the immovable property commission needs to be reactivated as its term is due to expire by the yearend. The issue, however, is not simply extending the term of the commission which requires a new law. The commission needs to work efficiently; its work should not be obstructed by the Turkish Cypriot government.

Let me explain. When a Greek Cypriot applies to the commission, he or she asks for a certain amount of money for compensation. This offer goes to the interior ministry, which makes a counter proposal that is usually much less than what the applicant originally asks for his/her property. What happens is that an agreement is reached on an amount that is usually much lower than the current value of that property.

In dire straits due to the economic crisis in the south as well as with no hope left for reunification of the island, the applicant accepts it probably thinking "it is better than having nothing."

But instead of letting the commission do its work and solve the property issue on a case by case basis, the government in Turkish Cyprus started giving signs of reviving the "global exchange" option, which is the exchange of abandoned Turkish Cypriot property in the south with abandoned Greek Cypriot property in the north. But this is not a realistic option and it remains a mystery that makes the government in Turkish Cyprus believe that Greek Cypriots will accept such an option.

Nevertheless, the interior ministry has lately been offering such low amounts for compensation that the Greek Cypriot applicants find it impossible to accept. This is seen as a sign of the unwillingness displayed by the Turkish Cypriot government for the efficient functioning of the property commission.

But the continuation of this trend will jeopardize the recognition of the commission by the ECHR.

Apparently, some Greek Cypriots have already applied to the Strasbourg court, saying the commission no longer functions as an effective remedy. If the ECHR were to decide against the commission, this would be catastrophic because it will take a very important mechanism from the Turkish Cypriots' hands to legitimize the current property situation in the island. This is a mechanism that is not only recognized by European law; it so far proved to be a rather "inexpensive" solution to the decades-old Cyprus problem. The Turkish Cypriot government so far paid 255 million pounds in compensation. When you do the maths and add together with the amount of the estate that has been subject to that compensation, sources familiar with the issue suggest that this amounts to only 15 % of the real current value of these lands.

Ankara, which has been paying the compensation money, needs to do some serious talking with the Turkish Cypriot administration in order not to jeopardize this mechanism. But obviously such a conversation might turn one to be nasty since the government is expected to tell the Turkish Cypriots to chip in too."

[05] Ertugruloglu met with the Archbishop of the Maronites

According to the paper, they evaluated the "decision" of the breakaway regime for the return of Marinites to their occupied villages and exchanged views over the issue.

The "ministry undersecretary" Mustafa Lakadamyal? and "ministry director" Kemal Koprulu were also present at the meeting.

(CS)

[06] Ozyigit: "We are opposed to two-state solution"; "The persistence on the Saudi Arabia time zone is a public enmity"

Ozyigit, who was guest at the television programme "Have your say" at the Turkish Cypriot private channel ADA TV yesterday, commented also on the Cyprus talks. He said: "The process does not end without solving the Cyprus problem. We are opposed to a two-state solution. If there is not a solution, we don't support the view that 'we will continue with the TRNC'. The solution for Cyprus is the federal solution".

Referring to the decision of the "coalition government" not adopting the winter time in the occupied area of Cyprus, Ozyigit said that the "government" should change the mistake and the winter time should be adopted. He further said: "The government says that they are not neither a province nor a patch. However, all its actions are like to be a province. We live here. The motherland is there. We have our own social life here. They are trying to make us forget Ataturk. After this, the oppression of religious and secularism will come. There is the issue of FETO. It is not clear what it is. Everyone is nervous looking at each other with suspicion."

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (14.09.17) reports that Ozyigit, in a written statement, described the decision of the "coalition government" National Unity Party (UBP) and Democratic Party (DP) not to switch to the winter time as a "public enmity". He called the "government" to withdraw this mistaken decision, while there is still time.

Noting that despite the painful incidents of last year, the chaos of the working life as well the fact that a great majority of the community is against this, Ozyigit argued that the persistence of the "government" to adopt the time of Saudi Arabia and not the European time, only because Turkey will adopt it, is "public enmity".

Ozyigit concluded by saying that what it should be done is the clocks to go back one hour.

(DPs)

[07] KTAMS chairman called the "people" to resist on the continuation of the summer time

In a written statement, the chairman of "KTAMS" Ahmet Kaptan, reminding the proposal of the "deputy prime minister" Serdar Denktas submitted recently to the trade unions, which envisages the implementation of four different working hours in the "public service" within a year, argued that this proposal does not count the productivity of the employees.

Kaptan stressed that the main problem is not the working hours, but to remain on the summer time zone, which does not comply in different geographical areas.

(DPs)

[08] Saner held contacts in Ankara

Evaluating his contacts to BRT, Saner said he had a very fruitful meeting with his Turkish "counterpart" Julide Sar?eroglu.

He said that during their meeting they held a detailed discussion on the agreements signed earlier between the two "ministries". He also added that "there was full consensus between the two countries on personnel and experience sharing".

"Within this framework, I would say that we came to an important stage in our bilateral contacts regarding the regulation we have prepared on occupational health and safety, information sharing between the two countries as well as the work conducted on preparing a general health insurance scheme and integrating the current social security law to the general health insurance" he said.

He also added that the technical "regulations" for bringing together young jobseekers with employers and the fund to be formed before the "implementation of the general health insurance" were also discussed during the meeting.

Expressing the desire to see the Turkish Minister of Labour and Social Security Julide Sar?eroglu in the "TRNC" soon, Saner said the stage of the work carried out between the two "countries" will be evaluated at assessment meetings to be held in the "TRNC".

[09] The employees in the field of religion support Atalay

In a written statement issued yesterday, the union said that Ozgurgun's effort to remove Atalay from his duties derives from misinformation.

(I/Ts.)

[10] Turkish Foreign Ministry: "There will be a price to pay' if KRG insists on referendum"

A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement released on Sept. 14 also welcomed the Iraqi Parliament vote that rejected the planned Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) referendum on Sept. 25 as unconstitutional.

"The [Kurdish region] should be aware that there will most certainly be a price to pay for insisting on its approach for a referendum despite all our friendly recommendations," the statement said, without elaborating.

It described the KRG leadership's "increasingly emotional statements" in favor of independence as "alarming."

[11] Erdogan heralds S-400 missile deal with Russia

The deal has caused concern among Turkey's NATO allies as the Russian air defense system is incompatible with the air defenses of other NATO members.

"They went crazy just because we made the S-400 deal," Erdogan told a meeting of city mayors from his ruling party in Ankara. What are we supposed to do? Wait for you? We are taking security measures and will continue to do so.

Earlier this week, Erdogan said the first payment for the S-400 had been made. The total value of the deal is believed to be around $2.5 billion.

In addition, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (14.09.17) reports that Erdogan has pledged to provide the military with a range of new weapons in the anti-terror fight, signaling the production of more indigenous guns and criticizing a main opposition deputy over recent remarks on the issue.

"We will do whatever is necessary to keep this state alive. We will do this with armed drones and with tanks and cannons. We will do it by equipping our security forces with all necessary weapons," Erdogan said speaking at a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) mayors in the capital Ankara.

"America and Israel were always very reluctant to give their unmanned air vehicle products. And when they did give them, their repair and maintenance put us in a difficult position. Now, Turkey can produce its own UAVs, even armed ones. And they are disturbed by that fact. We will do better things. We are taking important steps," he added.

"Turkey is a country that has not made any concessions in its policy of avoiding harm to civilians, even during cross-border operations, let alone ones within our borders," he claimed, adding that no MP has the right to object to success in the country's anti-terror fight.

[12] President Erdogan urges AKP mayors once again for crucial 2019 polls

"In the 2019 elections, we aim to get 50 % plus one vote not just for the presidential and parliamentary elections but also for the local elections. That is the goal," Erdogan told a meeting of AKP mayors in Ankara on Sept. 13.

Turkey is set to hold three elections in 2019. The first will be the local election scheduled to be held in March 2019, while the presidential and parliamentary election will be held later in the year in November.

As the shift to an executive presidential system, stipulated by the constitutional amendment narrowly approved in a referendum in April, will go into effect after the 2019 election, Erdogan underlined that the "real goal is the presidential election."

"Our success in municipalities is one of the most prominent conditions of our ability to receive our desired outcome in the presidential executive system, which will go into effect in 2019," he said.

"March 2019 is absolutely essential. That's why current mayors and our candidates for 2019 should set their goals not only to March but also to November 2019," he added.

Saying that 884 of Turkey's 1,397 mayoralties are currently under AKP rule, Erdogan stressed the importance of local governance in the executive strength of the ruling party.

[13] Celik: "Turkey, UK 'give direction' to Europe's politics"

Celik's remarks came in an address at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House on his second day of his London visit.

The U.K., Europe's gateway to the Atlantic, and Turkey, Europe's gate to Asia, will continue to shape Europe's politics.

"Similarly, even if it is not an EU member, Turkey has been a European power and it continues its journey as a European democracy for hundred years," he alleged.

The power of democracy in Turkey was seen "in the struggle people showed to protect it during the FETO coup attempt on July 15," he added.

Celik also said Turkey's contribution to Europe's security "was clear both in the management of the migrant crisis and in the fight against Daesh", adding that the U.K. and Turkey will be the two pillars of the European architecture in the future, just like they are today.

In his speech titled "Europe and Turkey: A Common Future", Celik said Turkey is following the Brexit process as it will "change the EU fundamentally."

Also speaking about the global balance, Celik said the world was in a "transitional period".

Celik said: "We are going through a sensitive era… The former stabilities in the globe are changing; we are to face a new world. Many analyses describe this situation as a global world without leaders… The leadership of the Western bloc is under discussion, the rise of China and Russia is gaining pace."

Turkey's EU minister went on saying that "far-right parties' rise to second position in many countries or gaining a position to become a leading partner show that the liberal order is under threat from within Europe".

"The shaken self-integrity of Europe with the Brexit decision, as well as the extreme power-gaining of the far right in Europe, weaknesses in the fight against terror and irregular migration cause the questioning of trust in the European project and the EU's loyalty to universal values," Celik said, adding:

"They [Europe] need to take inclusion into their agenda in order to eliminate polarization…to stop the poisoning of society with hate speech, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism".

Celik concluded with his remarks on Turkey-EU relations. "It is clear that recent statements to exclude Turkey and cut Turkey-EU negotiations will not serve the great future the Europe", has stated.

[14] Turkey's tourism needs long time to fully recover, says research firm

The research firm STR Global carried out an assessment on Turkey's tourism in cooperation with the Hotels Association of Turkey (TUROB).

The research company, which tracks 58,000 hotels across the world with a total room capacity of 7.8 million, noted that it was early to say Turkey's tourism sector was improving again despite a recovery in 2017 since the previous year, according to a statement by TUROB released on Sept. 12.

"Turkey's tourism sector needs a long time to go back to the good old days without being associated with any negative developments," STR Business Development Director Thomas Emanuel said.

"Turkey has shown some recovery over this this year compared to the previous year, but it is not possible for us to describe this trend as an improvement," he also noted, adding that Spain and Portugal benefited most from Turkey's embattled situation in tourism.

In the first seven months of the year, hotel occupancy rates across Turkey rose 12.5 % compared to the same period of 2016, but an 18.6 % year-on-year decline was seen in average daily rates (ADRs).

"The July results especially matter. Hotel occupancy rates across Turkey rose to 69.2 % in July with a 64.9% year-on-year increase, mainly thanks to a base effect from a failed coup attempt last July. Despite an 18.5 % increase in occupancy rates in Istanbul's hotels in the first seven months of the year, the city's ADR saw a 21.9 % year-on-year plunge, even lower than the country average," Emanuel said. While ADR was 65 euros across Turkey in the first seven months of the year, this regressed to 36 euros in the same period of 2017. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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