Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-07-31

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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] The so-called foreign ministry criticizes the UNSC's Resolution

[02] A Turkish Cypriot wants to return Greek Cypriot property he had been granted to its legal owners

[03] Candan: "The EU is looking for a new method to regulate its ties with the Turkish Cypriots"

[04] Ozyigit confirmed that they will support Akinci

[05] Turkish Cypriot columnist says that Eroglu has no authority to open crossing points

[06] Ballot boxes to open today in the occupied area of Cyprus for THE Turkish Presidential elections; Akca: "Only 8,240 out of the 90,000 to cast their votes in the TRNC"

[07] Ballot boxes opened abroad for Turkey's Presidential elections; Figures on the overseas electorate

[08] Turkish women protested against Deputy PM's 'no laughing' comments; More statements by Arinc on the issue

[09] CHP' Deputy submitted a parliamentary question on ISIL organization's links with Turkey

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The so-called foreign ministry criticizes the UNSC's Resolution

In the statement, the "ministry" notes that the lack of elements such as there is no reference to the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side regarding the extension of the mandate of the UNFICYP but only to that of the Republic of Cyprus, and that there is no expression saying that the "unjust isolation" towards the Turkish Cypriot people should be removed without any more delay, is unacceptable.

According to the "ministry", there is an important call in the Resolution regarding the negotiations for a comprehensive solution. The call to both sides to intensify the substantive negotiations on the unresolved core issues in the 5th paragraph of the Resolution coincides with the call of the Turkish Cypriot side, which has being doing this since the first day of the election of President Anastasiades. The "ministry", on this matter, claims that the Greek Cypriot side has brought the process in a remote point from the productivity by not implementing until today the necessary things on it although it committed openly within the framework of the Joint Declaration on the 11th of February to do so, and prevents the flourish of the positive atmosphere, which was emerged after the joint declaration, with new compromises.

In the statement, the "ministry" notes that the Turkish Cypriot side calls one more time on the Greek Cypriot side at this critical stage of the negotiations to exhibit a sincere political will on the issue of moving forward the process by respecting the convergences reached during the years 2008-2012. The statement continues: "In this context, the Security Council notices the approach, which coincides with our views on this matter and we expect the Greek Cypriot side to fulfil without any more delay the call, which was done both at the report of the Secretary- General on the 9th of July, 2014, (S/2014/461) and on the above mentioned UN Resolution".

The statement concludes: "Taking into account the reality this year that the deployment of UNFICYP in the island has been for 50 years, we wish the Greek Cypriot side to listen to the expectations of the two peoples in Cyprus and to the international community including the UN for an early solution and to make sincere and constructive steps towards this."

[02] A Turkish Cypriot wants to return Greek Cypriot property he had been granted to its legal owners

The paper writes that this behavior should be an example for everyone and points out that Ozer is doing something that happens for the first time. Ozer was born in occupied Epiho village, where he possessed 60 donums of land [a land measure of about 1000 square meters] which he had inherited from his ancestors. In return for this land, which remained within the boundaries of a military zone and is used by the army for many years, Ozer's family had been granted by the regime other land in occupied Voni and Palekythro villages. "Eray Ozer is looking for the real owners of these lands, the title deeds of which were given to him in 2004, in order to give them back without waiting for absolutely anything in return", writes the paper.

Ozer visited Afrika yesterday holding the title deeds of the above-mentioned properties in his hands and said: "This property is not mine. It was taken by force from its real owners. I cannot reconcile with my honor leaving this property as inheritance to my children".

Afrika's editor-in-chief, Sener Levent reports in his column that Ozer is ready to return 4.5 donums in Voni and 9.25 donums in Palekythro.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Candan: "The EU is looking for a new method to regulate its ties with the Turkish Cypriots"

Stating that the "assembly delegation" of the occupation regime held contacts the previous week at the European Parliament, Candan explained that during their contacts they exchanged views as regards the new method to be implemented for regulating the relations of the Turkish Cypriots with the EP and added that they submitted a proposal for the establishment of an office.

Explaining that during their contacts they also conveyed their views concerning the representation of the Turkish Cypriots at the EP, Candan stated that they have launched a systematic work together with their "representation in Brussels" toward this issue.

Candan stated further that during their contacts in Strasburg, they made clear once more the dissatisfaction of the Turkish Cypriots as regards the European Parliament elections that took place in the island on May. "The Turkish Cypriots are not represented in any way by the elected Greek Cypriots", said Candan and referred to the importance of making this being understood.

Regarding the ongoing Cyprus negotiations talks, Candan said that the time has come for the EU to contribute more to the process and added that the EU could help on the issue of how the elements of the solution to be found could be adopted by the EU.

(?)

Candan explained further that during their stay in Strasburg they met with the new members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and with a number of Italian MPs.

(AK)

[04] Ozyigit confirmed that they will support Akinci

During the interview, Ozyigit confirmed that their candidate for the "presidential elections" in 2015 will be Mustafa Akinci. He also made a call on the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) to support this time their candidate.

[05] Turkish Cypriot columnist says that Eroglu has no authority to open crossing points

"In this sense, the decision for the unification of our country, for the development of Lefka and its area, for determining a crossing point at the barricade in Lurudjina, which is in any case full of holes at the moment, and for determining new crossing points in order for the farmers and the workers living a healthier and a more secure life is taken in Ankara and not in the inter-communal negotiations held at the old airport in Nicosia or in the Silihtar [Translator's note: The area where the Turkish Cypriot leader's office is located in the occupied part of Nicosia].

The second dimension of the issue is that Dervis Eroglu is one of the most important characters of the regime established in the period after 1974. He has a finger and a signature in cutting the community off the production, in the creation of property mafia, in the swindle of looting, in legalizing the night clubs and the casinos and in giving new licenses, in the 'Economic Cooperation Protocols' with Turkey which forced the Turkish Cypriot youth to migrate, and in the 'Turk comes Turk goes way' policies.

Such a character, through his relation with the capital, the mafia and the nationalist circles, represents the general interests of the capital and not the general interests of the people (...)

Having more crossing points in this country will annoy those who carry out trafficking of humans and goods, those who carry out money laundering, the nationalist and chauvinistic circles. Everything that annoys them will also annoy Turkey and Eroglu. They do not care at all about peoples coming together, about the increase of the farmers', peasants' and workers' possibilities and incomes, about the flourishing of the hopes for peace".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Ballot boxes to open today in the occupied area of Cyprus for THE Turkish Presidential elections; Akca: "Only 8,240 out of the 90,000 to cast their votes in the TRNC"

In statements during the press conference, Akca gave details on the Presidential elections to take place in Turkey on August 10, on the voting process for the Turkish citizens living abroad, including the Turkish settlers in the occupied area of Cyprus and other.

Explaining that the "ballot boxes" in the occupied area of Cyprus will be opened as of today and until August 3, Akca recalled that the "Turkish citizens" living in the occupied area of Cyprus would be able to cast their vote providing that they had first obtained an appointment through the internet website of Turkey's Election Board (YSK) in the address: www.ysk.gov.tr. He then called on the voters to be careful not to lose their date of their appointment for casting their vote and explained that in case they do so, then, they will be able to cast their vote at the border gates in Turkey.

According to Akca, the number of "Turkish voters" living in the occupied area of Cyprus is 90,000; however, only 8,240 out of them, as he stated obtained an appointment for voting. Akca went on adding that those who did not obtained an appointment via the Internet, can vote at ballot boxes the system automatically assigns.

(AK)

[07] Ballot boxes opened abroad for Turkey's Presidential elections; Figures on the overseas electorate

In the past, Turks living abroad could vote in polling stations at border gates. But on average, only 7% of the 2.6 million potential overseas voters voted in previous elections. With recent changes to the Election Law, however, the overseas electorate can vote at embassies, consulates and other designated areas in their country of residence between July 31 and August 3.

However, the amendment failed to significantly raise the expatriate voter turnout as only around 180,000 Turkish nationalS have registered to vote overseas.

A majority of the more than 2.7 million eligible voters living abroad may not be able to cast ballots in the Presidential elections as they failed to make an appointment to vote through the website of the High Election Board (YSK). A total of 178,959 Turkish voters have taken an online appointment to vote abroad in the first round of the Presidential elections. The exact number of voters who have obtained an appointment for both the first and a possible second round of the elections is 248,285.

The total number of Turkish electorate living abroad is 2,734,429, according to the YSK's data, constituting 5% of the total number eligible to vote.

The number of Turkish voters living in Germany is 1,380,909. However, only 92,092 voters have registered to vote in the first round of the elections.

The low expected turnout has been attributed to the fact that many Turkish nationals were not informed that they had to register their addresses at the embassies or consulates in their cities of residence in order to obtain an appointment. Some voters also did not know how to use the Internet system, resulting in their failure to register.

Those who did not obtain an appointment via the Internet can vote at ballot boxes the system automatically assigns. However, it is expected that these voters will again hesitate to vote as such polling stations could be far from their residences.

Meanwhile, Turkish nationals living abroad began casting their ballots on July 26 at border gates in Turkey.

Election officials set up 42 polling stations at land crossings, airports and ports that will remain open for arriving Turks until August 10, the date that voters living in Turkey will go to the polls for the first round of the election.

Most of those travelling to border gates to vote are Turkish citizens living in nearby countries or passing through the country on their way to another destination.

(?)

[08] Turkish women protested against Deputy PM's 'no laughing' comments; More statements by Arinc on the issue

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ar?nc, who has urged women not to laugh in public to "protect moral values".

Hundreds of Turkish women posted pictures of themselves laughing on Twitter.

Melda Onur, a lawmaker from the main opposition party Republican People's Party (CHP) said on Twitter that Ar?nc's comments portrayed laughing as a dishonorable act and left women exposed to violence.

Opponents accuse Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government of ruling in an increasingly authoritarian manner and meddling in people's private lives, which has long been a source of conflict between the country's secularists and Erdogan's conservative supporters.

Meanhwile, Arinc made further comments on the issue on Wednesday.

He said that a part of his speech had been tweezed out, misrepresenting the sense of his actual words; but this time, he also expressed his opinion that women should not travel alone. Ar?nc said: "They have taken a part of that speech. If I had only said women shouldn't laugh, that would have been irrational. But I was making a speech regarding moral values. There are those [women] who leave their husbands [at home] and go on holiday; those who find it hard to resist climbing a pole when they see one. You might live your life like that. Rather than being angry, I pity you"

Ar?nc said his entire speech had been one-and-a-half hour long, adding: "Thankfully, some networks broadcast the entire speech."

[09] CHP' Deputy submitted a parliamentary question on ISIL organization's links with Turkey

"Is it true that one or more training camps have been allocated in Istanbul to the group claimed to be an offshoot of the ISIL terrorist organization? What is this group? Of whom is it composed of?" Tanr?kulu, Deputy chairman of the CHP, said in the parliamentary question he submitted.

The terrorist group ISIL, following its advance in Iraq, changed its name to the Islamic State at the end of June.

In the question for Minister of Interior Efkan Ala, Tanr?kulu demanded to know if the claim about allocating a training camp to the terrorist group is true and where the campsites are in Istanbul, referring to photographs recently published in some Turkish dailies that displayed a large crowd of members of the supposed terrorist group in an open area.

Photos of hundreds of people gathered for prayer in an open area appeared in dailies at the beginning of the week.

"Where is the area the group, which is claimed to be an offshoot of ISIL, used to celebrate one another's holiday on July 28, 2014?" Tanr?kulu asked.

"Is it true that the group which is claimed to be an offshoot of the ISIL terrorist organization declared a jihad [holy war] on July 28, 2014?" Tanr?kulu further demanded to know.

Asking if the group used the area where it gathered for military training, CHP Deputy Chairman said: "Was the [Ramadan] holiday used as a guise when official permission was sought [from authorities] by this group? Is it true that the Istanbul Security Directorate and the provincial gendarmerie command were instructed not to intervene while the group, an offshoot of the terrorist organization ISIL, called for a jihad in Istanbul?"

(?) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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