Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-09-28

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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] Ozgurgun said that they will continue granting "citizenships"

[02] The occupation regime admits that it considered "problematic" eight books sent to the Greek Cypriot schools in occupied Rizokarpaso

[03] Ertugruloglu insists that the revival of the Cyprus talks after the Cyprus elections is unacceptable

[04] Afika paper worries on Erhurman's statement that they should "grant citizenship" to all those who have completed ten years

[05] Turkish Cypriot hoteliers confirm that only 16 hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus are built on Turkish Cypriot property

[06] A new "hotel" with a marina port to be constructed in occupied Keryneia

[07] Turkey issues travel warning for KRG' regions and announced the suspension of all flights to KRG

[08] Celik called on the EU to open chapters 23 and 24

[09] Turkey's opposition party CHP on the KRG referendum

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ozgurgun said that they will continue granting "citizenships"

"The Greek Cypriots earned four billion euro by selling citizenships. Some people among us are still shouting that 'the TRNC gives citizenships'. This is a policy which benefits the south and the supporters of the south. [?] If there were illegal citizenships, I would understand this. [?] However, behaving as if the country is lost and everything is ruined by giving citizenships is nothing else than serving the Greek Cypriot policies. [?] If those, who say nothing when the Greek Cypriots give citizenships, use the citizenships against the citizens from Turkey and Turkey, [?] then we as government will continue giving citizenships. And let them come to power and annul these citizenships. By doing this they do not serve the country. In 1960, the population was 7:3. Now is 8:2. While the Greek Cypriots are continuously increasing as population, it is inconceivable for us to decrease. [?]"

Referring to the Cyprus negotiations, Ozgurgun alleged:

"During the next few years, we will find before us supporters of EOKA with the Greek Cypriot education system in favor of enosis. When Turkey says that the negotiations cannot continue within this framework and president Akinci also accepts this, the effort to resume the process would be tantamount only to serving the Greek Cypriots' interests. [?]"

Ozgurgun claimed also that the Greek Cypriots do not tolerate any positive development in the occupied area of Cyprus and that the increase in the number of tourists visiting the occupied area frightened the Greek Cypriots. He alleged:

"We will not surrender to the Greek Cypriots. We are and will be taking measures together with motherland Turkey. They [the Greek Cypriots] will not be able to stop the development and the progress of the Turkish Cypriot people".

(I/Ts.)

[02] The occupation regime admits that it considered "problematic" eight books sent to the Greek Cypriot schools in occupied Rizokarpaso

In a statement issued yesterday, the "ministry" claimed that the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus tried to "denigrate" the occupation regime and ensure political benefits by "lying" that eight books did not reach the occupied schools. The statement alleges the following:

"As it is known, according to the usual practice implemented every year, the books, which will be taught in the Greek Cypriot schools, are conveyed to our ministry through the UN Peace Keeping Force and are examined by our competent authorities. For this year, 107 primary school books in Greek, 149 secondary school books in Greek, 23 books in English and 3 books in French were conveyed to our ministry thought the UN. During the conducted examination, three primary school books and five secondary school books were considered problematic from the point of view of their content.[?]"

Alleging that the above-mentioned books "incited feelings of enmity contrary to the idea of peaceful coexistence and tolerance", the "ministry" said that the books were sent back "in order for being reexamined and the negative expressions to be substituted with expressions which will secure mutual respect between peoples". It claimed that the above-mentioned books were transferred yesterday by the UN to occupied Rizokarpasso and were delivered without any problems to the Greek Cypriot primary and secondary schools.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Ertugruloglu insists that the revival of the Cyprus talks after the Cyprus elections is unacceptable

In addition to this, Ertugruloglu met with Turkish Cypriots and Turks living in Washington and informed them regarding the developments in Cyprus. He asked from them to continue the necessary lobby activities for the new process and be the voice of the Turkish Cypriot "people" in the USA. He argued that the United Nations needs to change the parameters (methods) of the Cyprus talks, adding that the new process should resume on the basis of equality and between both "states". He further alleged: "The negotiating process in Cyprus cannot continue like this. The Turkish Cypriot people are still waiting for support from the international community to remove these embargoes. It is unlikely that this process, which follows the framework provided by the UN Good Offices Mission, will be successful because it is not based on equality. Both the Cyprus conference and the Cyprus talks in Crans-Montana have collapsed. We cannot afford to continue like this once the Greek Cypriot presidential elections have passed. They stole us 50 years with the open-ended negotiations. We will not permit to steal us more time. We will consult with Turkey for the new process and will decide together for the steps that we will take in the future. However, it is unacceptable to try to revive a process that had ended or to revive it after the Greek Cypriot elections".

(DPs)

[04] Afika paper worries on Erhurman's statement that they should "grant citizenship" to all those who have completed ten years

Under the title "A citizenship cyclone from Tufan", the column writes they all discuss on the "citizenship" issue and to whom they will give and to whom not, but no one announces the number of those who "obtained citizenship" after 1974. The column continues: "It is announced that our population is around to 300 thousands? But there is not even a single person who believes this!"

The column wonders "how many persons are included within the reasonable criteria that Erhurman predicts. Are they 10 thousands, 20 thousands or 50 thousands?"

The column continues to write: "If Erhurman's proposal is accepted, it means that we will increase the number of those who are coming? the number of those who are staying will be reduced? (?) We do not even know what we do or what we want? Elections are approaching? This also counts?Those who administrate register citizens with vote worries? On the other hand, the opposition is trying not to move away from Turkish citizens' votes".

(DPs)

[05] Turkish Cypriot hoteliers confirm that only 16 hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus are built on Turkish Cypriot property

Fethi Ozbogac, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot hoteliers' union, told the paper that 134 or 135 hotels are active and that the other 30 installations are inactive or closed. He said that 103 of these hotels are members of their union. Noting that only 16 of the hotels are on Turkish property, Ozbogac alleged: "The property commission must turn all installations into Turkish. [?]. All difficulties can be overcome".

Moreover, Ayfer Said Erkmen, chairperson of the so-called "property compensation commission", told the paper that the "commission" has examined applications for four occupied Greek Cypriot hotels until today: The Acapulco Resort & Convention Hotel, Salamis Bay Conti Resort Hotel, Rocks Hotel and Jasmine Court Hotel. Erkmen also claimed that they received 6,400 applications and solved around 1,030 of them.

(I/Ts.)

[06] A new "hotel" with a marina port to be constructed in occupied Keryneia

According to the paper, the cost of the construction of the marina will be 300 million dollars and as the paper writes, the marina will be located in front of the hotel and will also have a heliport.

In statements to the paper, the "general director" of the Savoy Hotels stated that that the new hotel will cover an area of 40.000 square meters and its hotel capacity will be 606 bedspace. The hotel will include also 4 swimming pools, the biggest congress center, 7 restaurants with international cuisines, spa centers, a golf course, 288 standard rooms, 44 deluxe suites, 28 executive rooms, 4 king suites e.t.c.

The construction works of the hotel is estimated to be concluded by the end of 2018.

(AK)

[07] Turkey issues travel warning for KRG' regions and announced the suspension of all flights to KRG

In a statement, the Ministry said that all citizens should leave the cities as soon as possible if they are not obliged to stay.

The Ministry had earlier said it will take "all measures" under international law if the referendum generates threats to Turkey's national security.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Consulate-general in Irbil announced on Wednesday that Turkey will suspend all international flights to and from airports operated by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) starting from Friday,

A statement posted on the Consulate's website said that flights by Turkish Airlines, AtlasGlobal and Pegasus "won't be possible" after 06:00 p.m. on Friday. It added that authorities were working to increase flights until then.

The announcement came after the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (IraqCAA) said that it would seize all flights to the KRG, after Barzani refused to surrender authority of airports to the central government in Baghdad.

In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority said that all international flights to and from Irbil and Sulaymaniyah airports will be suspended.

[08] Celik called on the EU to open chapters 23 and 24

Omer Celik was in Madrid taking part in a discussion on Europe's future.

He told an audience of diplomats, intellectuals and politicians that "threats to the EU are growing" and said that EU's relationship with Turkey is particularly important. "And we have to remember that the values that the EU represents are universal, and we are worried about them being affected."

(?)In the presentation, hosted by Spanish think-tank El Cano, Celik further alleged that Turkey would also be more capable of addressing its own challenges, which clearly affect Europe as well, if it were part of the EU.

When asked about freedom of speech and freedom of the press in Turkey, he explained the complex situation in Turkey but added that it was up for debate. "We are open to criticism, we are candidates of the EU, so it's something we have to address and can't ignore? in terms of freedom of the press, if Europe opens chapters 23 and 24 then we'll talk," he claimed, referring to two key chapters that push candidate countries to further align its laws, freedoms, and justice systems with EU norms.

(?)

[09] Turkey's opposition party CHP on the KRG referendum

"Statements since day one have made it evident that it had no international legitimacy," Y?lmaz said, adding that "a difficult process -- one including Turkey -- has begun".

(?)Yilmaz further said that the illegitimate vote had worsened regional tensions, adding: "Though it has not reached the point of warmongering, I would like to express the CHP's concerns about some small incident possibly lighting the fuse due to the instability in the region."

"The CHP never wants to wage war. Nevertheless, Barzani has taken a very irresponsible and provocative step. This step will not strengthen the KRG's hand for legitimacy but rather weaken it," he said. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK /MP)

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