Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-12-21

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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 calls for a faster and more effective work of the "Immovable Property Commission"

[02] Caglar asked for Turkish to become an official language of the EU

[03] A call from KTOS to the children of mixed marriages who have problems in obtaining Cyprus citizenship

[04] Reactions against the construction of a religious vocational school in occupied Keryneia area

[05] Ozersay and Erhurman asked from Ozgurgun to declare his property assets

[06] Turkey wants to resolve 'trust problem' with EU

[07] Cavusoglu blasts US over threats ahead of UN vote on Jerusalem

[08] Turkey is putting 'certain limits' on visa applications after US move

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci calls for a faster and more effective work of the "Immovable Property Commission"

"After the decision by the European Court of Human Rights, IPC became even more important. It is very important for the IPC to take decisions in a fast manner and implement whatever is required by these decisions. Only the extension of its term of duty is not enough. The important thing is what is done within this term of duty. The new government should discuss the creation of the necessary resources for faster and more effective work of the IPC and implementation of its decisions".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Caglar asked for Turkish to become an official language of the EU

In his statements, Caglar recalled that Turkish is one of the three official languages of the Republic of Cyprus and alleged that it is not considered as one of the European Union's official languages because the Greek Cypriots, who had been accepted in the EU "unfairly and unilaterally" in 2004, have not confirmed this.

According to a statement issued by the "assembly", Caglar claimed that with this practice Turkish Cypriots' cultural existence and identity is ignored and therefore this is very unfair and contrary to the law and should be corrected.

Moreover, Caglar referred also to the "restrictions and unjust treatment", which the Turkish Cypriot so-called football federation allegedly faces and brought onto the agenda the "isolation" and the various "injustices" allegedly imposed on the "TRNC" for political reasons. He claimed that politics should not interfere in such events and alleged that the Turkish Cypriot youth, who "is not responsible for the current situation", can watch an international event in Cyprus only from the grandstands. He alleged that this kind of political restrictions should end.

Meanwhile, Danish Deputy Mogens Jensen, member of the Socialist Group, argued that the participation of Turkish Cypriot young people in such sports activities should be secured and that an international effort should be exerted for this.

Anne Brausseur, Deputy from Luxembourg, replied to Caglar and said that they will discuss the issue of the so-called political restrictions, which the Turkish Cypriot youth allegedly face, with the president of UEFA.

(I/Ts.)

[03] A call from KTOS to the children of mixed marriages who have problems in obtaining Cyprus citizenship

In a written statement, Elcil argued that since 1974 in the occupied area of Cyprus there were approximately 17 thousand mixed marriages and the children from those marriages did not take the citizenship of the Republic of Cyprus due to political reasons.

(DPs)

[04] Reactions against the construction of a religious vocational school in occupied Keryneia area

Nidai Gungordu, self-styled mayor of occupied Keryneia, told the paper that the area has neither the necessary infrastructure nor roads to support such a school and added that in June he had suggested to EVKAF the creation of a park in the area but he received no reply.

According to the paper, in the past EVKAF had attempted to give a "permit" for the construction of a hotel in the same area, but it was forced to change its decision because of the reactions of inhabitants in the area.

The Turkish Cypriot teachers' trade union (KTOS) and the Social Democracy party (TDP) reacted to EVKAF's decision and said that this is unacceptable.

Sener Elcil, KTOS' general secretary, said that they will not remain silent on this issue and added that there are 40-50 students in every class in the "state" schools. "They say to us that there is no place to build a school but they are giving 70 donums to others for an imam hatip", he noted adding that EVKAF "started serving reactionism". He also said that this land should be given for the construction of a primary school and that there is no need for a religious vocational school.

Asim Idris, general secretary of the TDP, said that in case his party comes to "power" they will not allow the opening of new religious vocational schools and that they will close down the existing ones.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Ozersay and Erhurman asked from Ozgurgun to declare his property assets

In a written statement, HP asked the "office of the chief public prosecutor" to investigate whether Ozgurgun's declaration of property corresponds or not to the one he submitted when he came to the power and whether he notify or not the "assembly" if there was a change in his property assets.

Meanwhile, yesterday's edition of Afrika newspaper (20.12.17), under the title "Either announce your bank accounts or withdraw your candidacy", on its front page, reports that Tufan Erhurman, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) said that Ozgurgun has not made any announcements regarding his bank accounts according to the "declaration of property law".

In a written statement, Erhurman called Ozgurgun to make an announcement regarding his bank accounts and added: "His silence cannot be accepted. If you cannot make an announcement on this, Ozgurgun, then you should immediately withdraw your candidacy".

(DPs)

[06] Turkey wants to resolve 'trust problem' with EU

Speaking to journalists in Paris, Turkish EU Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Selim Yenel said that the main obstacle with relations is "a lack of confidence". "Unfortunately, we cannot fully trust each other. We want to restore that trust", Yenel added.

He also stressed that Turkey's EU membership negotiations, which "are now at a standstill," should be resolved as the current situation is not in the best interest of both sides. "Unfortunately, there are no chapters [in the negotiations] to open because there is a political obstacle," he claimed and argued that the "Greek Cyprus administration" (as he referred to the Republic of Cyprus government), which has been an EU member state since 2004, blocked the process.

"As long as the Cyprus [dispute] is not resolved we cannot take another step in this matter," he claimed.

[07] Cavusoglu blasts US over threats ahead of UN vote on Jerusalem

Speaking ahead of his trip to New York for the U.N. General Assembly emergency session on Jerusalem, Cavusoglu said that Turkey expected support for the draft resolution, as not only Muslims, but also Christians and Jews were disturbed by the U.S. decision.

"Everyone with a conscience resisted this unlawful decision. However, we can see that before tomorrow's vote, the U.S., who is left alone, is resorting to the method of threats," Cavusoglu said.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley on Tuesday warned countries that she will report back to Trump with the names of those who support a draft resolution rejecting the U.S. decision regarding Jerusalem. "What are you going to do after taking the names? Are you going to punish those countries too?" the Foreign Minister responded. "The world rebels against injustice now. No dignified state will submit to such repression. Nobody will bow to this pressure."

Calling on the U.S. to abandon such tactics, Cavusoglu said: "Tomorrow we will witness history."

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (20.12.17) reports that Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag also slammed on Thursday the U.S. President Trump's threat to cut aid to countries that vote in favour of a UN resolution.

Bekir Bozdag referred to Trump's statement in a tweet that he would cut aid over the UN resolution vote that denounces his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

"They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us. Well, we're watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We'll save a lot. We don't care," Trump said on Wednesday at the White House.

"With this statement, the U.S. President Trump's threat to countries that vote against the U.S. on Jerusalem is not acceptable. The U.S. must know that it cannot exert on all sovereign countries pressure and threats as it wants. Tomorrow's vote is an opportunity for this," Bozdag said on Twitter. He added that none of the sovereign and independent states would surrender to the U.S. President's threats and pressure.

"Turkey and the Turkish nation do not change decisions with threats or pressure," he ensured.

[08] Turkey is putting 'certain limits' on visa applications after US move

The U.S. Embassy in Turkey on Dec. 19 announced that the earliest date for visa appointments regarding non-immigrant applicants in its diplomatic missions in Turkey is January 2019.

When asked about the statement from the Embassy, Akdag said that Ankara was also mutually imposing "certain limits" in terms of visa proceedings with Washington.

"There is a need to address this issue as a whole. Mutual steps have been taken. There is a necessity to facilitate citizens in their jobs at this point", he said.

"We, as the Republic of Turkey, also have put certain limits in terms of visas. I think this meaningless approach should immediately be put aside", Akdag added.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

(DPs / PH)

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