Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-10-02

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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] AKP inaugurated the "National Solidarity Struggle Association's" offices in the occupied area of Cyprus in Aktag's presence

[02] Akdag met with Ozgurgun and Sibel

[03] Surveys show that only four political parties can overcome the electoral threshold of 5% in the occupied area of Cyprus

[04] The number of tourists from third countries that arrived in the breakaway regime via the Republic of Cyprus has increased

[05] Ataoglu said that they will stop issuing incentives to travel agents whose "North Cyprus holiday packages" include flights to the government controlled area of Cyprus

[06] "YODAK" wants to stop the increase in the number of "universities" in the occupied area of Cyprus

[07] Disagreements in BKP for the efforts with co-operation with TKP

[08] An ancient family tomb was unearthed in the occupied village of Agios Andronikos

[09] Erdogan: "Turkey doesn't need EU anymore, but won't quit talks"

[10] Erdogan over independence referendum: KRG will pay the price

[11] Turkey opens its largest overseas military base in Somalia

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] AKP inaugurated the "National Solidarity Struggle Association's" offices in the occupied area of Cyprus in Aktag's presence

Aktag said that this "association" was "AKP's working field" aiming at the Turkish voters living in the occupied area of Cyprus. Noting that these voters exceeded 100 thousand, Aktag recalled that only 43% of these people voted during the referendum of 16th of April, 2016 in Turkey and added that their [the AKP's] target is to increase this percentage to 80%.

Referring to the economy of the breakaway regime, Aktag alleged that the "TRNC", as he described the regime, is a "stable country" which stands on its own feet and claimed that the Greek Cypriots would not be able to prevent its development, whatever their stance is.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Akdag met with Ozgurgun and Sibel

During his contacts, Akdag argued that "the development of the TRNC will speed up through enhanced cooperation with Turkey".

On the Cyprus problem, Akdag alleged that the Greek Cypriot side's belief is that the Turkish Cypriots, under the pressure of embargoes and the absence of a settlement, will give into their demands.

"It is time they see and accept the fact that the TRNC will continue to grow and develop on these lands, prospering and moving forward. They should abandon this meaningless stubbornness", he claimed.

Siber stated during their meeting that "it was their joint goal to raise the quality of living and prosperity of the Turkish Cypriot people".

Ozgurgun expressed his hope that "the financial and economic cooperation that existed between motherland Turkey and the TRNC since 1974 will further pick up pace".

Claiming that the Cyprus problem can no longer be solved under the existing UN parameters, Ozgurgun further alleged that the absence of a settlement further bolstered the need and importance of economic development.

In addition, Illegal Bayrak (30.09.17) also broadcast that Akdag has said that "it was everyone's duty to work towards the goals set towards raising the economic prosperity of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".

Akdag attended the closing session of the "Structural Transformation Program's 2nd Revision Workshop" which started earlier in the week. Addressing the session, Akdag praised the efforts of the technical committees of the two "countries" responsible for the development of the "TRNC economy".

Akdag said that the financial discipline exercised by "TRNC authorities" was exemplary and that the same dedication should be shown in other areas of "public reform".

He added that it seemed that the current "government" is committed to the "financial protocol", and said that "it was important that laws and legislation sent to parliament as part of the reform package should be passed swiftly without further delay".

Akdag also alleged that "a settlement will become easier to achieve with a stronger TRNC".

"Better hospitals, better roads, cheaper electricity and clean water are all needs which the South needs as well. I believe that when we achieve these in the TRNC the Greek Cypriot side will get closer to a settlement, he claimed.

[03] Surveys show that only four political parties can overcome the electoral threshold of 5% in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to the survey, only four political parties can overcome the electoral threshold of 5% and enter the "parliament": UBP (National Unity Party) with 30.79%, HP (People's Party) with 23.72%, CTP (Republican Turkish Party) with 21.22% and TDP (Social Democracy Party) with 11.72%.

The following table shows the percentages of the political parties:

Party	Vote %
UBP 30.79
HP 23.72
CTP 21.22
TDP 11.72
YDP (Revival Party) 4.79
DP (Democratic Party) 3.40
YKP (New Cyprus Party) 1.80
BKP (United Cyprus Party) 1.32
TKPYG (Communal Liberation Party-New Forces) 1.25

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (01.10.17), under the title "Society complains, but UBP is always in front", reports that Mine Yucel, director of "The Centre for Migration, Identity and Rights Studies" (CMIRS), said that although the society is complaining about the political system, it shows also that UBP is the first political party in all five surveys, which have been conducted within the last year (July 2016 - July 2017).

The following table shows the results of the five surveys between July 2016 and July 2017.

Party	July 2016	Sept 2016	Jan 2017	April 2017	July 2017
UBP	17.73	19.9	30.69	18.3	18.5
CTP	10.4	8.15	9.95	11.4	12.65
DP	1.65	2.4	3.48	1.4	2.34
TDP	4.02	3.84	2.49	1.7	5.39
YKP	0.47	0.24	1.24	-	0.47
BKP	-	-	0.5	-	0.23
KSP	0.47	0.48	-	0.2	0.23
HP	6.86	10.31	11.19	10.9	14.05
TKP-YG	-	-	1.49	2.4	0.47
SDP	-	-	-	0.7	-
YDP	-	-	-	-	-
Mixed	8.27	7.91	3.48	10.2	7.96
Undecided	9.69	20.62	8.46	16.9	13.82
Not vote	40.43	26.14	27.11	25.9	23.89

(DPs)

[04] The number of tourists from third countries that arrived in the breakaway regime via the Republic of Cyprus has increased

These numbers does not include Turkish Cypriots living in the UK or Greek Cypriots.

The number of tourists for the period between January ?August 2016 was 736,108 the paper writes, claiming that the increased number of tourists who cross to the "TRNC" is the reason that the Republic of Cyprus issued the "illegal hotels list".

The paper also writes that even Turkish Cypriots who live in the UK use the Larnaca airport to travel to Cyprus.

(CS)

[05] Ataoglu said that they will stop issuing incentives to travel agents whose "North Cyprus holiday packages" include flights to the government controlled area of Cyprus

"Tourists travelling to North Cyprus via the South's Larnaca airport should switch to using Ercan airport instead, a minister said yesterday, as the Greek Cypriot government was accused of sabotaging TRNC [editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus] tourism.

Tourism minister Fikri Ataoglu told Cyprus Today that the government will stop issuing incentives to travel agents whose North Cyprus holiday packages include flights to South Cyprus. He said agents would instead be given 80 euros for each person travelling on a package holiday lasting at least one week, but that they 'must come from Ercan'. He also warned that British passports holders heading to the TRNC via Larnaca could face 'problems' once the UK leaves the EU.

(?)"

Ataoglu also said to the paper: "Shall we now declare that Larnaca airport, which is built on Turkish Cypriot land, is also illegal and that thousands of tourists using it are trespassers?".

However, Orhan Tolun, head of the "Cyprus Turkish Travel agents' union, criticized the plans to end travel agent subsidies for Larnaca airport. He argued that "travelling to Ercan airport ? which involves a change of aircraft in Turkey ? was just too expensive and that large number of tourists preferred using Larnaca. "We are going to shoot ourselves in the foot", he added.

According to the paper, Fikri Toros, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO), said that he too had been "discomforted" by the development.

[06] "YODAK" wants to stop the increase in the number of "universities" in the occupied area of Cyprus

The paper writes that the "preliminary audit council", which discusses these "permits", is expected to convene today, after repeated postponements of its meeting. It is said that the "council" has on its agenda the discussion of granting "preliminary permit" to three "universities", including the "International Aydin University". Turkish former EU Affairs Minister, Egemen Bagis participates in the board of this "university".

Akile Buke, "YODAK's" chairperson, told the paper that the freezing of the "permits" might come onto the agenda again. She said that they had asked to freeze the "permits" and continue [granting] after seeing what would happen and added that this could not happen because there was no "legal ground" for this. She expressed the view that "universities" must open in a planned manner and added: "A study should be carried out in the direction of how many universities are needed in higher education and how much will the infrastructure bear the universities. [?]"

According to the paper, 17 "universities" will offer education this academic year (2017-18) in the occupied area of Cyprus, two more than during the past academic year. The two new "universities" are the "Bahcesehir Kibris University" and the "Arkin Creative Arts and Design University".

Meanwhile, Hasan Tacoy, so-called independent "deputy" told the paper that he has prepared a "draft law" providing that the effort for "establishing" new "universities" in the occupied area of Cyprus should be postponed for a decade. Tacoy said that he submitted the "draft-law" to the "assembly" after collecting the signature of 8-9 "deputies". He noted that all parties have been briefed on this "draft-law".

(I/Ts.)

[07] Disagreements in BKP for the efforts with co-operation with TKP

The 12 members issued a written statement noting that are against the efforts the two parties to participate under a common list in the "parliament elections".

(CS)

[08] An ancient family tomb was unearthed in the occupied village of Agios Andronikos

The "antiquities and museums department" of the self-styled ministry of tourism and environment announced that due to archaeological excavations carried out by Cafer Gilol, an ancient family grave was found, which belongs to the Cypro-geometric period. After a systematic excavation of the ancient tomb, the archaeological team found a child's skeleton on the floor and two adult skeletons. Double-handled amphora, two pieces of oenochoe, amphora, wine test, a small amphora, perfume bottles, many broken ceramic pieces, vases and other potteries were unearthed.

The paper published a photo with the ceramic pieces.

(DPs)

[09] Erdogan: "Turkey doesn't need EU anymore, but won't quit talks"

"I will say this clearly: We will not end the process, throw in the towel or give up. In fact, we do not need EU membership," Erdogan told lawmakers in the Turkish Parliament at a ceremony to mark the start of the new legislative term.

"If the EU wishes to take a step forward today, the only way to do that will be by initiating true economic and cultural enlargement through Turkey's accession," he said.

Erdogan noted the patience shown by Turkey since making the first application in 1959 and the signing of the Ankara Agreement in 1963.

"We see that they misunderstand the patience Turkey shows in the process of EU membership," he stated.

"If the European Union is willing to do that, we stand ready. We will be happy to contribute to the future of Europe. If they don't, it will make no difference to us; we shall continue on our path. We shall maintain this policy, which I believe all parties represented in Parliament agree with, until we get a definite answer from the European Union," he added.

Citing the Brexit process of the U.K., Erdogan warned that the EU could face more challenges in the future.

He blamed some EU countries of falling on deaf ears for the activities of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO) in the continent.

"We are most disappointed by the member states of the European Union with regard to our fight against terrorist organizations," Erdogan said.

"We are extremely displeased with the tolerance shown to terrorist organizations by those who quite explicitly oppose Turkey's accession into the European Union. We say that the PKK is a separatist organization aiming to destroy our state and constantly engaging in terrorist actions to achieve its goal. We say that FETO is a treacherous organization which aimed to take over the state.

Two-hundred-and-fifty citizens were martyred as a result of the coup attempt initiated by FETO," Erdogan added.

Erdogan insisted the state of emergency, which is criticized by the EU, only targeted "terrorist organizations and its members and no one else was harmed by the state of emergency." "Today, Europe has become a place where terrorists are free to roam around and organize all kinds of activities against the legitimate government of Turkey," Erdogan said.

"Those who knock on our door when their citizens are apprehended in our country for crimes including terrorism do not even bother to process the files we send them for the same purpose. The hypocrisy toward our country by the European Union in every area including chapters and the freedom of movement is so obvious that they can no longer find an excuse to explain it away," he said.

Erdogan also reiterated that Turkey will not turn a blind eye to the independence referendum held in northern Iraq. "We cannot turn a blind eye to efforts next to our borders aiming to sow the seeds of sedition that will constitute a permanent threat to the Iraqi people and Turkey as well as to other countries in the region," he said.

Ankara will never allow "any threat against Turkey" over the historic Turkmen city of Kirkuk, which is one of the territories disputed between the central Iraqi government and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), and "will call to account" in case of any threat.

Following his speech, Erdogan held a meeting in Parliament with the participation of Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, Constitutional Court head Zuhtu Arslan and Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman.

[10] Erdogan over independence referendum: "KRG will pay the price"

"We never regret what we have done in the past, but now the circumstances have changed, the northern Iraqi regional government which we have been giving all kinds of support for a long time, has taken a step in spite of our country. So, they will pay the price," Erdogan said in a speech during provincial advisory meeting in the eastern province of Erzurum.

He also underlined that Turkey is in close contact with neighboring states, including Iran and the Iraqi central government, and ready for negative developments in the region.

Turkish daily Sabah (01.10.17) reported that Erdogan stated that he will travel to Iran on October 4 to discuss the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) referendum and Astana talks with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

[11] Turkey opens its largest overseas military base in Somalia

Senior Somali officials, Turkish and foreign diplomats attended the ceremony amid tight security.

"My government and our Somali people will not forget this huge help by our Turkish brothers. This academy will help us reconstruct our not based on clan, not from a particular place, but well-trained forces that represent the Somali people.," Khaire said at the inauguration ceremony.

For his part, Gen. Akar said the Turkish government would "continue to support our Somali brothers until their country becomes militarily stronger."

Located south of Mogadishu, the training facility had been under construction for the last two years. More than 10,000 Somali soldiers will be trained by Turkish officers at the base, a senior Turkish official told Reuters.

The Somali government has praised Turkish investment for improving infrastructure in the country, and the information minister singled out Turkey's new move into security support. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.pio.gov.cy

(CS/AM)

Constantia Soteriou

Press and Information Officer -Turkish Press Section

P.I.O. | Ministry of Interior | Republic of Cyprus

*: 1456, Nicosia, Cyprus | (: +357 22801162 | 7: +357 22 666123

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