Erkmen alleged that the applicant claimed that the Right to Fair Trial (6th article), the right to an effective remedy (13th article) and the prohibition of the discrimination (14th article) of the European Convention on Human Rights and the 1st article of the 1st protocol related with the Property Right were violated.

"The ECHR did not make any decision on the applicant's demands made under these articles however ordered the adversary to pay Joannou €7,000 for non-pecuniary damage and €6,325 to the applicant in respect of costs and expenses on account of the fact that the applicant was exhausted as a result of extension of the procedure" aleged Erkmen.

Referring to the appeals of the Maleagrou and Loizou cases which were rejected by the ECHR, Erkmen said that the decision of the court was intrinsic to this case and would not mean the questioning of the effective domestic remedy of the "Immovable Property Commission".

"According to this decision, it's been once again confirmed that under the 35th article of the European Convention on Human Rights the Immovable Property Commission continues to be an effective domestic remedy for Greek Cypriot's property demands" he claimed.

[05] Reactions by political parties on the latest decision taken by the ECHR upon an appeal made by Greek Cypriot Adriani Ioannou

In a written statement, Ozersay noted: "If we want the foreign states and the international organizations to respect us and our institutions, and if we want them to address, then we should make our domestic law compatible to the international law". He argued that the People's Party election declaration includes a proposal regarding this issue, and added: "It is necessary to create a fund for the IPC, to abandon the bad management tactics, which were created by the old politics and to present a vision compatible with the international law. this is the vision of the People's Party".

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (14.12.17) reports that the Revival Party (YDP), commenting also on the latest decision taken by the ECHR upon an appeal made by Greek Cypriot Adriani Ioannou, argued that while the ECHR accepted the "IPC" as an effective domestic remedy and it was a historic opportunity to direct all the Greek Cypriot applicants to the IPC, it was extremely sad to make the "IPC" ineffective due to the clumsy policies of the "TRNC administrators" and to the their populist mentality.

In a written statement, YKP reiterated the request to make legal arrangements regarding the "local improvement tax" (a type of tax received due to the increase in the value of immovable property in the surrounding area or region when a place is brought to a flourishing state) in order to create a fund for the "IPC".

(DPs)

[06] Six trade unions expressed support to Afrika newspaper

The joint declaration was signed by Turkish Cypriot secondary school's teachers trade union (KTOEOS), the Turkish Cypriot Teacher trade union (KTOS), DEV-IS, DAU-SEN, CAG-SEN and Basin-Sen.

The statement underlined the intensified efforts in the recent years exerted by the AKP government and those supporting it in the occupied area of Cyprus to demolish the Turkish Cypriot community and achieve the demographic transformation of the community.

The trade unions condemned in the statement the attack against Afrika newspaper, underlining that the Turkish Cypriot community, which is a modern, secular and democratic community came across systematic attacks during the recent years. "The systematic policies implemented in the TRNC after 1974 and the imposition policies implemented by our puppet governments in cooperation with the Turkish governments, are leading our community to chaos. The created system has led to the increase of the criminals and crimes, to the increase of money-laundering due to the big number of casinos and night clubs to the increase of drug-trafficking and to the transformation of the demographic structure of the community […]", the statement said.

Referring to the recent statements made by Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Responsible for Cyprus Affairs, Recep Akdag regarding Afrika, the trade unions underlined in the statement the following: "It is obvious that those who are not tolerant even a caricature, do not have an idea what the respect to differentiation to other modern and democratic communities' means and do not understand what tolerance and respect to different elements means. (…)".

Accusing Akdag for intervening in the internals of the "TRNC" and for behaving as a "colonial minister", the trade unions condemned also the "state officials" in the "TRNC" for remaining silent.

The trade unions underlined further that the Turkish Cypriot community will continue its struggle of resistance.

Meanwhile, the same paper writes that the chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit, in statements yesterday during a visit he paid to the Turkish Cypriot journalists union (Basin-Sen), expressed support to Afrika newspaper and condemned strongly Akdag's statements and the lynch demonstrations against Afrika, describing these attacks as unacceptable. "We express our solidarity and support to the paper. On the other hand, the freedom of speech and ideas should be safeguarded. If an action is perceived wrong, then the way of punishment is not by lynching but by the path of the law", Ozyigit stated.

(AK)

[07] Davulcu: "In any case the treaty of guarantees would change"

On the Cyprus problem, Davulcu expressed the view that whatever would be the agreement to be reached between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots, the "Treaty of Security and Guarantees" would definitely change, recalling that this would have happend if the Annan plan was accepted by the sides.

Davulcu expressed the view that if a solution is reached on the Cyprus problem, it would be more physical and natural for the "Treaty of guarantees" to change and for the new state to be to have a new Constitution and a "new treaty" that would guarantee its territorial integrity.

Davulcu went on expressing the view that the Cyprus negotiation talks will be re-launched after February, expressing also hopes that the talks will lead to a positive outcome.

(AK)

[08] Islamic Cooperation declares East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital

"We declare East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine and invite all countries to recognize the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital," read the final communique released after the OIC Summit in Istanbul, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, the current OIC term president.

The 23-article Istanbul Declaration expressed full solidarity with Palestine and "rejected and condemned in the strongest terms the unilateral decision by the President of the United States America recognizing Al-Quds as the so-called capital of Israel."

Trump's move is an "attack on the historical, legal, natural and national rights of the Palestinian people, a deliberate undermining of all peace efforts, a move to extremism and terrorism, and a threat to international peace and security," read the communique.

The Istanbul Summit brought kings and heads of states and governments from all member countries except Syria just a week after Trump ordered to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Qatar Emir al-Thani and Jordanian King Abdullah II were among the most prominent leaders present at the summit. Saudi Arabia was represented by the country's Islamic Affairs Minister

In his opening remarks, Erdogan slammed the U.S. decision and the Israeli government's actions, saying that "Jerusalem is and always will be the capital of Palestine."

"I declare once again that Jerusalem is our red line. Haram-I Sherif with its 144 cares, which include al-Aqsa Mosque and Kubbet ul-Sahra, will forever belong to Muslims," he said.

Referring to Israel as a "terror and occupying state," Erdogan called on Trump to reverse his Jerusalem decision, vowing that Muslims would never give up on a sovereign State of Palestine with East Jerusalem its capital.

"I invite all countries supporting international law to recognize Jerusalem as the occupied capital of Palestine. We cannot be late anymore," he said.

In his closing remarks, Erdogan lashed out at Trump's move describing the decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital as the product of an "Evangelist and Zionist mentality."

For his part, Palestinian President Abbas told Muslim leaders that Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital was a criminal move that should "disqualify the U.S. from Middle East peace talks."

"It is no longer acceptable for [the U.S.] to play a role in the political process given its bias in favor of Israel. This is our position and we hope you support us in this," he said, calling for the establishment of a new international mechanism to hold future peace talks between Israel and Palestine based on a two-state solution.

Erdogan echoed Abbas' rejection of the U.S.'s role as an "honest" broker between Israel and Palestine. "This process has come to an end. Those who take sides cannot be impartial," he said.

In his closing remarks, he said a meaningful response to the crisis was needed to counter Trump's unilateral move.

In his closing remarks Abbas described the Istanbul Summit as a "rare success for an Islamic meeting" and praised Erdogan's role in organizing the emergency reunion of Islamic countries. "The Islamic world needed to mobilize and the first step taken to this end was a consequence of President Erdogan's immediate move," he said.

King Abdullah of Jordan, which signed a peace treaty with Israel more than 20 years ago, told the Istanbul Summit that he rejected any attempt to change the status quo of Jerusalem and its holy sites. Iran said the Muslim world should overcome internal problems through dialogue in order to unite against Israel. "America seeks only to secure the maximum interests of the Zionists and has no respect for the legitimate rights of Palestinians," President Hassan Rouhani told the summit.

The declaration also said the OIC holds the U.S. "wholly responsible for the consequences of not retracting this illegal decision," which the organization regards as "an announcement of the U.S. administration's withdrawal from its role as sponsor of peace."

It also called on the U.N. Security Council to assume its responsibilities immediately and reaffirm the legal status of the City of Al-Quds Ash-Sharif, and to end the Israeli occupation of the land of the State of Palestine.

The communique affirmed "its readiness to take up this grave violation in the UN General Assembly should the UN Security Council fail to act."

OIC, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Istanbul, summit, Islam, religion, Palestine, Jerusalem, Israel, United Nations

[09] Turkey slams Trump's national security advisor McMaster over 'Islamic extremism' remarks

"Claims by National Security Advisor (H.R.) McMaster, who should be well aware on how our country has been fighting terrorism and all sorts of radicalism, are nonfactual, astonishing, baseless and unacceptable," the Foreign Ministry said in a written statement on Dec 13.

The statement came after McMaster accused Turkey and Qatar of funding extremist Islamic ideologies during a panel held at a think tank in Washington on Dec. 12. McMaster serves as the national security advisor of President Donald Trump.

McMaster reportedly referred to Saudi Arabia's support for some of these organizations "decades ago" but singled out Qatar and Turkey as main supporters at present.

"[It] is now done more by Qatar and by Turkey," he said.

He also argued that Turkey had "drifted from the West" under the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Foreign Ministry statement reiterated that Ankara "continues to see the U.S. as a friend and ally," expressing its expectation of the same behavior from the Washington administration.

It also repeated Ankara's demand from the U.S. to stop its support to the People's Protection Units (YPG), while stressing Turkey's "continued fight against terrorism and radicalism."

McMaster's remarks came as bilateral relations between Turkey and the U.S. have hit new lows over differences on the role of the YPG in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Turkey considers the YPG as a terrorist organization because of its links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), while the U.S. regards it as a vital partner in the fight against ISIL.

[10] US committed to strategic partnership with Turkey, National Security Council says

"We appreciate Turkey's efforts to increase its border security, stem the flow of foreign fighters through its territory and fight on the ground to clear ISIS from key towns in Syria," a National Security Council spokesman told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity, referring to the Daesh terrorist group.

"There is more work for everyone in the region to do to address the financing of terrorism and the ideologies that support violent extremism, and the United States will look for opportunities to deepen our cooperation on the issue with Turkey," he added.

Speaking Dec. 12 at an event hosted by the British think tank Policy Exchange in Washington, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said Turkey and Qatar are the "main supporters" of "radicalism" and claimed Turkey's problems with the West were mainly due to the rise of the ruling party in Ankara. The remarks drew a swift rebuke from Ankara.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said McMaster's remarks were acknowledged with "sadness". It added McMaster, due to the position he holds, "must know better".

"National Security Adviser McMaster's baseless claims are far beyond reality, astonishing and unacceptable," said the statement.

The Foreign Ministry urged the U.S. to stop supporting terrorist groups such as the PKK/PYD.

The PKK/PYD, also known as the YPG, is the Syrian wing of the PKK and has received U.S. support in the form of Special Forces back-up, air power and military supplies.

The U.S.'s use of the PKK/PYD in Syria has been a longstanding complaint for Turkey, which has been subjected to a decades-long terror campaign by the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and the U.S.

"We expect the U.S. to provide more concrete and effective support to our country in its determined fight against terrorism and radicalism in accordance with our traditional alliance relations and international legitimacy," the statement added.

The statement came amid strained relations between the two countries, notably the fact that the leader of Gulenist terror group (FETO) still roams freely in Pennsylvania, a highly politicized trial against an ex-executive of Turkish state-owned Halkbank and the FBI's financial support of 50,000 dollars to a fugitive Gulenist named Huseyin Korkmaz.

Korkmaz who had first denied his involvement in December 17-25 judicial coup attempt while he was under arrest in Turkey, later confessed his role in the bid. He is currently testifying in Manhattan federal court for U.S. prosecutors in the trial of Mehmet Hakan Atilla, an executive at the majority state-owned Halkbank, who is accused of taking part in a scheme with gold trader Reza Zarrab to help Iran evade U.S. sanctions. His contradicting statements have been met with caution.

Direct links between the judge overseeing the case, Richard Berman and FETO have also cast doubt on the trial. Turkish officials have underlined that the case is politically motivated against Turkey.

Zarrab, a Turkish and Iranian national, has pleaded guilty and testified against Atilla, saying he used fraudulent food and gold transactions to launder money for Iran with the help of Atilla and others. Atilla has pleaded not guilty.

U.S. prosecutors have charged a total of nine people in the case. Only Zarrab, 34, and Atilla, 47, have been arrested by U.S. authorities.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

https://www.pio.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio2013.nsf/All/EDB254ABD6F3EAE1C225816F00425E83?OpenDocument

(CS / AM)

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