Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-09-29

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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] Ban phoned Akinci; He reaffirmed his determination to support the leaders in their efforts to reach a solution prior to 2016

[02] "Eroglu: Akinci started talking like Eroglu"

[03] Ozgurgun alleges that an army of 30,000 militia under the control of the Church exists in the government-controlled area

[04] The "Trade Union Platform" evaluated the NY summit

[05] Turkish Cypriot daily argues that Rauf Denktas' spirit "wanders around" the "presidential palace" in the occupied area of Cyprus

[06] Ertugruloglu continues contacts in Washington D.C

[07] Russian President Putin to visit Turkey in October

[08] Turkish Justice Minister: 32,000 arrested in coup probe

[09] Twelve more television channels closed down in Turkey

[10] Turkey sealing Syrian border with giant wall

[11] Turkey's Security Council recommends extending emergency

[12] Iranian FM holds unscheduled talks with Turkish officials

[13] Ataoglu on the occupation regime's tourism

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ban phoned Akinci; He reaffirmed his determination to support the leaders in their efforts to reach a solution prior to 2016

Ban and Akinci exchanged also views on modalities for this process to reach a successful result and agreed to be in contact in the coming days.

(AK)

[02] "Eroglu: Akinci started talking like Eroglu"

Referring to the tripartite meeting with the UNSG in New York, Eroglu said that he was not expecting anything from this meeting, because he knows the Greek Cypriot side and predicted what it would do. Eroglu claimed that Akinci created great expectations to the "people" and is disappointed, because he seems to understand now the Greek Cypriot side.

Asked to comment on the statements made by Akinci that "if a solution is not reached by the end of 2016 other alternatives will come onto the agenda, that the only port [for the Turkish Cypriots] to take refuge is Turkey and that without the rotating presidency and Turkey's guarantees there could be no solution", Eroglu said: "It means that Akinci has started talking like Eroglu. However, when I was saying these, those who pretend to be the so-called supporters of the solution attacked me by saying 'Eroglu does not want a solution'. Are they going to attack Akinci now? Mr Akinci wants a solution. Everyone wants. I signed the joint Declaration on 11 February 2014 with Anastasiades, but those who pretend to be supporters of the solution attacked me again. They have always blamed us. However, it is extremely wrong to divide our people into those who want a solution and those who do not want and this is harming us. It means that as long as his term at the presidency advances, he started seeing some things better".

Replying to another question, Eroglu argued that the Turkish Cypriot side should definitely succeed the determination of a timetable and both the UN and the international community should help the Turkish side in this.

Asked whether they should be directed towards the recognition of the breakaway regime if the Greek Cypriots do not accept an agreement, Eroglu alleged: "The recognition is a matter of time. However, what should be done is that everyone, both the right-wing and the left-wing supporters to defend the state and demand the lifting of the embargoes implemented on us by the world upon demand and pressure of the Greek Cypriots. [?]"

Replying to a question on the guarantees, Eroglu claimed that during his period Turkey did not make a step backwards on the issue of its "effective and active guarantees" on the entire Cyprus and alleged that the unilateral military intervention right is of vital importance for the Turkish Cypriots. He also claimed that they should not give concessions on the issue of the rotating presidency.

Referring to the property issue, he alleged that accepting the "emotional bond" was wrong, because a person who had lived for ten years in a property is given the priority before a person who has been living in it for 42 years since 1974. He claimed that the "title deeds" granted by the occupation regime are under the "state's guarantees" and no step backward could be made on this issue.

Referring to the hydrocarbons issue, Eroglu further claimed that President Anastasiades should be reminded of the fact that the Turkish Cypriots will take parallel steps to the ones to be taken by the Republic of Cyprus and "definitely reply to the tricks of the Greek Cypriots".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Ozgurgun alleges that an army of 30,000 militia under the control of the Church exists in the government-controlled area

Ozgrugun argued that the Turkish Cypriots see the realities and how difficult is to reach an agreement with the Greek Cypriots. "We can see with satisfaction that [the Turkish Cypriot people] search for an agreement by which they will never abandon security and Turkey's guarantees", he added.

(I/Ts.)

[04] The "Trade Union Platform" evaluated the NY summit

Reading the statement on behalf of the Platform, Sener Elcil, general secretary of the KTOS trade union, stated, inter alia, that while they are expecting a result to come out soon from the negotiation process, the priority of the solution to be reached, should be to serve the interests of the Cypriots and not of the foreign powers.

The "Trade Union Platform" reiterated that it supports a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution based on the political equality of the communities, with a single sovereignty, single citizenship and a single international identify in the Federal United Cyprus to be.

Stressing the need to illuminate the community about the pessimistic scene which came out after the tripartite summit in New York, Elcil supported that if there are difficulties and problems in the negotiation process, these should be overpassed with constructive proposals by the two sides.

The Trade Union Platform consists of the "Turkish Cypriot Teacher's trade union"(KTOS), the Cypriot Secondary School Teachers Union (KTOEOS), the "Turkish Cypriot Civil servants union" (KTAMS), KOOP-SEN, BES, DEV-IS, TURK-SEN and BASIN-SEN trade unions.

(AK)

[05] Turkish Cypriot daily argues that Rauf Denktas' spirit "wanders around" the "presidential palace" in the occupied area of Cyprus

"They have asked Dervis Eroglu [the following]: 'President Akinci is also saying that if a solution is not reached by the end of 2016 other alternatives will come onto the agenda, that the only port [for the Turkish Cypriots] to take refuge is Turkey and that without the rotating presidency and Turkey's guarantees there could be no solution. What do you say?'

And Mr Dervis reply was the following: 'It means that Akinci has started talking like Eroglu. However, when I was saying these, those who pretend to be the so-called supporters of the solution attacked me by saying 'Eroglu does not want a solution'. What will they do now?'

During a meeting we held with Mustafa Akinci when he was a candidate, we told him that the biggest danger which expects him is 'to become Talat'. Talat had become Denktas. And Akinci could become Talat. However, both resulted to the same conclusion. To becoming Denktas! Denktas drove in this country and in the mind of everyone such a stake that it does seem easy to get rid of it. Think. He imposed by force, by threats the declaration of the TRNC to our opposition. Now everyone supports the TRNC with heart and soul. Denktas died but his spirit still wanders around that presidential palace.

Eroglu is right on this issue. Talat had started talking like Denktas. And now Akinci is talking like Eroglu. Eroglu had also said many times that if there is no solution we will discuss other alternatives, that Turkey is the only power which we trust and that we will never give concessions from the guarantees and the rotating presidency. However, those who never believed that Eroglu supported the solution attacked him. Whereas, everyone believes that Akinci sincerely wants a solution and exerts efforts for this. That is, even though they have reached the same port, there is a difference between them. Eroglu is in favor of a separate state. He wants the TRNC to live forever. Akinci, on the other hand, is a federalist. Erolgu is rejoiced when he sees that the Greek Cypriots are going away from the solution, while Akinci is sad.

Akinci is very optimistic. He has been very mistaken by believing that he would force the Greek Cypriot side to accept everything. Two years ago, Akinci's close circle at the palace was saying to us that 'this job will finish in November'. In November 2015. Honestly, we had not understood where this optimism was deriving from. Was it so easy? We wish that Akinci could leave aside what he could not do and do only what he could do. We wish he took serious steps in the direction of the rapprochement of the two communities. We wish he visited the mass graves together with Anastasiades. We wish he exerted efforts in the direction of the establishment of a 'Confession Committee' for the confession of the crimes and the rapes. We wish that he lifted that flag from the mountains which is a symbol of chauvinism, like he had once said that 'olive trees and not flags are appropriate for the mountains'. We wish that he took the support of the people, if some circles had opposed to this. We wish that he undertook a serious initiative for saving Varosha from the snakes and the centipedes. We wish that he visited the feasts in the south as well and not only the feasts and the festivals in the north. We wish that he visited the Greek Cypriot villages as well.

What does it mean now to threaten the Greek Cypriots by saying that 'if a solution is reached by the end of 2016, very well, if it is not reached, we will discuss other things'? Are we competing with each other to make Denktas' spirit happy?"

(I/Ts.)

[06] Ertugruloglu continues contacts in Washington D.C

Tahsin Ertugruloglu is continuing his contacts in Washington D.C.

Within this framework, he held separate meetings with Congress members Pete Sessions, Randy Weber, Steve Cohen and the member of the US Senate Tom Udall.

During the meetings, Ertugruloglu briefed the US officials on the latest developments in Cyprus and the Cyprus negotiations process.

Ertugruloglu also gave an interview to the Washington representative of the Turkish Hurriyet Newspaper Tolga Tan?s and attended a dinner given in his honour by the Turkish American Steering Committee.

[07] Russian President Putin to visit Turkey in October

According to reports, Hisac?kl?oglu and a committee consisting of Turkish businessmen met with the First Deputy Minister of Economic Development in Moscow.

He said that Putin's visit would focus on a number of issues including the Turkish Stream, and restoration of business ties between Turkey and Russia through lifting some restrictions imposed on Turkish businessmen following jet downing crisis.

The last time Putin visited Turkey was at the G20 Antalya Summit in November 2015.

Press Secretary for the President of Russia Dimitry Peskov also confirmed that Putin may visit Turkey in October.

Reporting on the same issue, Yeni Safak (29.09.16) writes that the meeting will take place on October 10.

[08] Turkish Justice Minister: 32,000 arrested in coup probe

"There are around 32,000 arrests. The process is still continuing. As there might be new arrests within the scope of evidence, information and findings in the investigation during this process, there might also be those among the arrested who will be released on probation or released directly. The number may increase and decrease since this is a dynamic process," Bozdag said in an interview with NTV on Sept. 28.

Legal proceedings have been launched against a total of 70,000 people as part of the probe, he said.

The minister also stated that there were shortcomings in terms of courtrooms in some places, signaling that new ones would be built if required.

Bozdag also added that more than 1,500 guardians with suspected links to the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETO) had been suspended from their duties so far.

[09] Twelve more television channels closed down in Turkey

Among the channels that were closed down are Hayat?n Sesi, TV 10, Van TV, Jiyan TV, Azadi TV and Zarog TV'nin.

(CS)

[10] Turkey sealing Syrian border with giant wall

After completing the tender process for a 200-kilometer-long section of the to-be built wall and preparing works for the remaining section, TOKI is expecting to finish the "security wall" in five months, its head, Ergun Turan, said. The wall is expected to block uncontrolled human passage across the border.

"As far as our national security is concerned, the increase of border security with Syria carries huge importance. With the completion of the wall, our border will become more secure," said Turan, adding that the concrete blocks would cover the entire border with their two-meter-wide and three-meter-high dimensions. Turan said the sections of the walls in the southeastern provinces of Hatay and Sanl?urfa were mostly completed and work was ongoing on other sections. He added that the blocks were portable, weighing seven tons each, and their tops were being covered with razor wire.

"We build the walls in a way that they can be moved away in the future if needed and as TOKI they were not only dealing with pouring the cement and assembling the concrete but are also building a road behind the wall.

Turan said the work itself is very difficult and meticulous due to conditions at the construction site, as the area has mine-fields. He added that in all five construction sites, there were 200 to 250 gigantic concrete blocks being produced for transfer to the border on trucks.

"When we say border, there is no road or anything there. As TOKI, we open the roads. The job is not easy, we are working on mined fields," Turan said, adding that Turkey was in a special situation as there were few countries in the world which shared a 900-kilometer-long border with a single country.

[11] Turkey's Security Council recommends extending emergency

During the almost six-hour meeting, the Council offered to extend the state of emergency beyond its initial three-month period.

"It has been agreed to recommend to extend the state of emergency in order to ensure the continuity of the effective implementation of the measures aiming to protect our democracy, the rule of law and the rights and freedoms of our citizens," read the statement issued after meeting.

The National Security Council also insisted on a "terror-free zone" and a "no-fly zone" in northern Syria as well as giving July 15 a special designation.

The statement underlined ?the decisive fight against terrorism?.

[12] Iranian FM holds unscheduled talks with Turkish officials

Tehran is one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's main allies in the civil war, putting Iran at loggerheads with Turkey, which insists al-Assad must leave for there to be peace in Syria.

The Turkish military launched the Euphrates Shield operation inside Syria last month with the aim of cleansing its frontier of terror groups, including Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants. Ankara is also pressing for a safe zone inside its war-torn neighbor to shelter refugees.

Despite the differences over Syria, Ankara and Tehran have worked hard in recent months to preserve a strong relationship, as Zarif's visit marked his third set of talks with Turkish officials in less than one-and-a-half months.

The visit came amid a flurry of diplomatic contacts between Turkey and Iran since the summer in the wake of the July 15 failed coup attempt in the former country. Iran was among the first countries to condemn the coup attempt.

Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani will pay a visit to Ankara on Oct. 17-18 and participate at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) parliamentarian assembly meeting.

[13] Ataoglu on the occupation regime's tourism

Referring to negative effects on the "tourism sectors" of both Turkey and the "TRNC" as a result of Turkey's crisis with Russia and the 15th of July military coup attempt in Turkey, Ataoglu stated that hotel and flight reservations in the "TRNC" were affected also dramatically. He added that this matter was discussed in detail during a meeting of the "council of ministers" recently which it decided for several measures to be taken.

He then went on and explained that during the contacts he held recently in Turkey, they have launched an important "promotion attack" in 10 different districts and argued that they expect 1 million tourists from Turkey in 2017.

Ataoglu further referred to the hotel occupancy in the occupied areas of Cyprus and said that this has reached to 70%.

Meanwhile, according to illegal Bayrak television (29.09.16) Ataoglu is in Mersin in Turkey to attend the 7th Mediterranean Tourism Forum (MEDITOUR 2016) which is organized there.

Ataoglu will also hold a series of contacts.

(AK) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/AM)

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