Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-09-21

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkish Cypriot delegation headed by Eroglu is flying to New York

[02] Eroglu says Varosha will definitely come onto the agenda of his meeting with the UN Secretary-General

[03] Turkish Cypriot daily argues that the regime banned discussion of the issue of occupied fenced Varosha on illegal Bayrak

[04] Comments by the Turkish Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport on Trabzonspor's direct flight to Cyprus

[05] Trabzonspor officials visit Eroglu; They want to see Eroglu in Trabzon for the return match

[06] Reactions by Turkish Cypriots to Trabzonspor's direct flight to Larnaca

[07] Atalay greeted Achbishop's gesture to subsidise the restoration of the occupied monastery of Apostolos Andreas

[08] Caglar and Ertugruloglu will participate in PACE's meeting

[09] Ocalan reportedly wants "new role" in peace talks

[10] Turkish pianist Faz?l Say sentenced to 10 months in prison for blasphemy in retrial

[11] TUSIAD urges EU to revive talks with Turkey

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkish Cypriot delegation headed by Eroglu is flying to New York

Meanwhile, Eroglu met yesterday with the Russian Ambassador to Nicosia, Stanislav Osadchiy. No statement was issued after the meeting.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu says Varosha will definitely come onto the agenda of his meeting with the UN Secretary-General

At the side-lines of one of his meetings, Eroglu was recalled yesterday of the support expressed by Russia and Britain to President Anastasiades' proposal regarding the return of Varosha to its legal owners and was asked whether this issue will come onto the agenda of the meetings, which he will be holding in New York.

Eroglu said that the views of the Turkish Cypriot side on the issue of Varosha are known. He noted that he will meet with the UN Secretary-General in New York and that the issue of Varosha will definitely come onto the table. He claimed the following:

"We have made statements on this issue in the past. Varosha is territory and the territory issue is one of the chapters of the negotiations. If the negotiations proceed positively, at the last stage we will discuss the territory issue. Anastasiades might have brought Varosha onto the agenda thinking to give good messages to his own public opinion and make it forget the economic problems, but our policy on this issue is open and clear".

Eroglu was also asked to comment on the issue of brining to the occupied area of Cyprus vehicles for interfering in social incidents, known as TOMA. Recalling that political parties and organizations reacted against brining these vehicles to the occupied area of Cyprus, Eroglu said that the so-called security forces command should re-examine the issue, because of these reactions.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Turkish Cypriot daily argues that the regime banned discussion of the issue of occupied fenced Varosha on illegal Bayrak

(I/Ts.)

[04] Comments by the Turkish Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport on Trabzonspor's direct flight to Cyprus

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Levent Gumrukcu said that it was not possible for any plane to take off from Turkey and directly land in "south Cyprus", as he described the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus. He noted that the Turkish Civil Aviation does not give permission to such direct flights. "The incident was realized upon the pilot's initiative", he argued. He noted that the permit given to the Greek plane carrying Trabzonspor team to Cyprus was for going from Trabzon to Rhodes. He argued that "no new situation is created" in Turkey's relations with the Republic of Cyprus by the fact that the plane changed its route and landed in Larnaka, instead of Rhodes.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Trabzonspor officials visit Eroglu; They want to see Eroglu in Trabzon for the return match

Asked to comment on the fact that Trabzonspor's delegation travelled to Larnaka directly from Trabzon, Eroglu recalled that the Turkish Ministry of Transport had made a statement on the incident and added that he did not want to make any comment before examining the issue in detail. Eroglu referred to the so-called embargo implemented on the Turkish Cypriots in the field of sports and transport and reiterated the allegation that the Greek Cypriots had been accepted in the EU in spite of the fact that they allegedly caused the problem in Cyprus.

In his statements Haciosmalioglu wished for the "TRNC" to "come to the point it deserves" and said he hopes that the "embargo" implemented on the Turkish Cypriots will end and they will be able to play with Turkish Cypriot teams. He argued that they consider the struggle given by the Turkish Cypriots as their own struggle and added that they want to see Eroglu at their return match with Apollon Limassol in Trabzon. He said that their airplane landed directly in Larnaca because it was a Greek plane. He argued that a stronger Turkey could play an important role in the lifting of the "embargoes' allegedly implemented on the Turkish Cypriots.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Reactions by Turkish Cypriots to Trabzonspor's direct flight to Larnaca

Furthermore, the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Sport Writers' Association, Ogun Kacmaz said that this incident could constitute a precedent, adding that it has most probably happened within the knowledge of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and after a dialogue between Turkey and Greece. He described as "not convincing" the statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry that it knew nothing about the issue.

Moreover, Ali Uzunyayla, so-called air traffic department's chief, said that "such change of route cannot happen instantly", adding that "the sides had agreed from before". In statements yesterday, Uzunyayla said that changing route is not contrary to the aviation rules. He noted that the incident had no relation with them and that the airplane had not entered into "TRNC's" so-called airspace. He went on saying that the flight plan completed in Trabzon provided for a route from Trabzon to the island of Rhodes, but the Greek Civil Aviation Department agreed with the Cypriot Civil Aviation Department and the plane landed directly in Larnaka.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Atalay greeted Achbishop's gesture to subsidise the restoration of the occupied monastery of Apostolos Andreas

Talip Atalay, head of the so-called religious affairs department of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, in a written statement, greeted the constructive approach made by Archbishop Chrysostomos II to subsidise financially the restoration of the occupied monastery of Apostolos Andreas, adding that he wishes the continuation of this cooperation. He also said that this cooperation is important to be carried also to the future and be adopted for all the cultural heritage of the worship places in Cyprus.

[08] Caglar and Ertugruloglu will participate in PACE's meeting

[09] Ocalan reportedly wants "new role" in peace talks

The remarks by Demirtas came days after his visit to Abdullah Ocalan on Imrali Island off the coast of Istanbul. In a written statement, Ocalan asked for a "new format" and renewed his wish to finalize the settlement process -- a nine-month-old project that has effectively halted decades-long violence and raised hopes for an enduring solution to the conflict.

Demirtas said an official from the Turkish state was also present during the meeting with Ocalan. He added that he and other BDP members are shuttling between Ocalan and "Kandil" (the Turkish name for the mountains in northern Iraq on the Iranian border that are regarded as the PKK's stronghold). Demirtas also said there are no direct talks between Ankara and Kandil.

The BDP co-chairman said that a party delegation is planning to go to Kandil next week to convey details of the meeting with Ocalan and they may hold talks with Turkish officials in Ankara when they return.

He added that they are doing their best to play their role in this process, but complained that there are no negotiations taking place despite conditions being ripe. He noted that the necessary basis for negotiations has been prepared as a result of the dialogue in the past year, and that they should not regard this period as a "loss."

"Maybe there is a delay in the timeline, but I can say that there is still ground for negotiations," Demirtas said.

Speaking on a package of reforms the government is planning to unveil by the end of this month, Demirtas said the government is preparing this democratization package based on its "own sensitivities" rather than the settlement process. He added that even a small advancement in the settlement process could hasten the process of militants returning home from the mountains. "We believe it is necessary that the war totally come to an end," the BDP leader said.

Demirtas criticized the democratization initiative for being a "package of the Justice and Development Party [AKP]" and downplayed the idea that an important outcome could come from it.

"The [reform] package has failed to become the key for the process. The way it is prepared, uncertainty over its content and its belated preparation, made it detached from the process," Demirtas concluded.

[10] Turkish pianist Faz?l Say sentenced to 10 months in prison for blasphemy in retrial

Say had received a suspended 10-month prison sentence on charges of "insulting religious beliefs held by a section of the society," for re-tweeting several lines, which are attributed to poet Omar Khayyam.

Say's lawyers had demanded his suspension be cancelled. His demand had been accepted by the court, and the court had paved the way for Say to be re-tried.

The 19th Istanbul Peace Court sentenced Say to 10 months in prison but since Say has no criminal record, the court suspended the sentence and ordered supervised liberty. If Say does not commit another crime within two years, the case will be dropped. The pianist will be able to appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court of Appeals.

Say was convicted after tweeting the following lines: "You say its rivers will flow in wine. Is the Garden of Eden a drinking house? You say you will give two hours to each Muslim. Is the Garden of Eden a whorehouse?"

[11] TUSIAD urges EU to revive talks with Turkey

Muharrem Yilmaz said during second High-Level Consultation Council (YIK) on Friday that both Turkey and the EU should put the accession negotiations on track again that will help both side benefit from their improved ties.

TUSIAD president demanded Brussels to open 22nd chapter on regional policy and coordination of structural instruments immediately. He said they also insist opening the 23rd chapter on judiciary and basic rights and 24th chapter on justice, freedom and security.

"I want to reach out to the EU member states and officials," Yilmaz said, "who could ? and how ? be hurt by opening these negotiation chapters?"

"Who and how could one benefit from keeping these chapters closed," Yilmaz asked rhetorically. He added that there is a need for construction and sincere position of the 28-nation bloc.

Chief of TUSIAD, one of the leading driving engines of Turkish business world, said they also demand the EU determine a fixed date for finalizing the membership negotiations.

Speaking about a package of reforms the government is planning to unveil by the end of this month, Yilmaz said they expect the package to bring tangible political steps that would make the peaceful atmosphere in the country everlasting. He said the package also should address recent concerns that the country is sliding back fundamental rights and freedom. Another benefit of the package, Yilmaz said, should be to accelerate works to write a new constitution that puts individual at the centre and includes broad freedoms.

Branding the democratization package as an important step, Yilmaz said the using the opportunity while endorsing the reform package could significantly strengthen Turkey's hand in terms of its bid to become the EU member. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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