Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-10-05

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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] Akinci argues that the target is holding a referendum in the mid of 2107

[02] Ozgurgun: "The continuation of the non-solution of the Cyprus problem is in the interest of the international powers"

[03] Ertugruloglu: "The negotiation procedure will be ended in case a solution is not reached in 2016"

[04] Ataoglu continues the promotion of the breakaway regime's tourism in Iran

[05] Occupied Geunyeli "municipality" signed the "subscription agreement" in order to receive the water transferred from Turkey

[06] Saner said that 2,967 persons were benefited in one month by the "labor amnesty"

[07] The movement "We are gathering" filed a lawsuit at the so-called "higher administration board"

[08] Yildirim announced a new medium-term economic program

[09] Demirtas: "AKP government is stupid"

[10] 'Turkish Pentagon' to be formed in Ankara

[11] The chairman of the Turkish settlers' party defends their right to come to "power" in the occupied area of Cyprus

[12] Tunali: "We became a cemetery of universities"

[13] Columnist: It looks like the state of emergency in Turkey will come over to the occupied area of Cyprus

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci argues that the target is holding a referendum in the mid of 2107

In statements in the occupied area after the meeting, Akinci said that the territory issue will be discussed outside Cyprus during the first week of November in a form of "camping meetings", if everything goes as planned and there is no "road accident". Akinci reiterated that after this, they want to hold a five-party conference for the discussion of security and guarantees.

Asked when a possible referendum could take place, Akinci replied that this could happen in the mid of 2017, after a political agreement is reached by the end of 2016, the remaining technical issues are completed in 2017 and the agreement is explained to the people.

Akinci said that the leaders agreed to hold 9 or 10 meetings in October on 5, 7, 14, 16, 17, 24, 26 and 31 October, adding that a meeting might also be held on 13 October, depending on one visit he will be paying abroad. Akinci reiterated that the target is to minimize the differences on four chapters during these meetings in October.

Akinci argued that all sides know very well the importance of time and that with President Anastasiades they reaffirmed the target of reaching a solution by the end of the year, noting that the target is for a political solution to be reached by the end of 2016.

Replying to a question, Akinci said that no blackout will be imposed on the negotiations and that the public will be informed. Asked as to whether a "Camp David type" process is on the agenda, Akinci replied that the discussion of the territory and a Camp David type process will not be avoided, because some issues might remain pending and added that all sides, including the UN, wish such a meeting and are determined to hold it.

Asked to comment on a statement by President Anastasiades that he will invite the members of the National Council in case of discussions are held abroad, Akinci recalled he had also said that it would be correct to invite the Turkish Cypriot political parties as well when they pass into a new form of negotiations.

Replying to another question, Akinci said that the process is conducted by the leaders of the two communities and the UN, but the EU is also at the "one side of this process" and is invited in the room for expressing its views upon the approval of the leaders.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ozgurgun: "The continuation of the non-solution of the Cyprus problem is in the interest of the international powers"

Speaking on a program on BRT, Ozgurgun stated that he believes that the Cyprus negotiations will continue no matter what the outcome will be.

Claiming that contrary to the Greek Cypriot side, the Turkish Cypriot side has never rejected any of the solution plans put on the table, he pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side had rejected the Annan Plan in the 2004 referendum and alleged that what is currently being negotiated at the table is similar to the Annan Plan.

He argued that even if the current talks succeeded in producing an improved plan, both sides would still reject it.

Supporting that there are issues which both sides do not accept, Ozgurgun explained that these included bi-zonality, the issue of guarantees and the issue of governance and power sharing.

He further claimed that the "north" Cyprus economy will collapse if an agreement which accepts the Greek Cypriot side's demands on the property issue is reached. "There is still disagreement regarding the relevant parameters of a settlement. I do not agree with the view that a settlement is near", he said.

"The Turkish Cypriot people have been demanding equality for years… we are still demanding it but the Greek Cypriots say no…They want it all for themselves. They want us to remain as a minority" he alleged.

Stating that he does not agree with the view that the negotiations will end if a solution is not reached by the end of 2016, Ozgurgun alleged that the talks have been continuing for years because the international community wants it to. "The continuation of the non-solution of the Cyprus problem is in the interest of the international powers", Ozgurgun claimed.

Also, touching upon "Turkey-TRNC relations", he stated that much has been accomplished in terms of cooperation between the two "countries" since his "government" came to "office" 5 months ago.

Pointing out that the water being pumped to the "TRNC" from Turkey is an extremely important project, Ozgurgun expressed the view that the water will not only allow growth in the agricultural and industrial production of the "country" but will also ease an important financial burden on the "country" caused by drought.

He also said that a number of infrastructure and road "projects" are underway and planning for a new "hospital" and prison is also being carried out.

[03] Ertugruloglu: "The negotiation procedure will be ended in case a solution is not reached in 2016"

He made these statements speaking during the World Association of Press Council (WAPC) which is holding its 17th executive council meeting in the breakaway regime between 2-6 of October.

The self-styled foreign minister further claimed that due to the "uncompromising behavior" of the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasides during the 3-party meeting in New York, it was not possible for a schedule to be drowned up and a road map to be made for conducting a 5-party meeting aiming to solve the Cyprus problem in 2016.

On his part, speaking at the council, WAPC's chairman Kajubi Makajanka, stated that they want to see the Turkish Cypriots taking the place they deserve in the international community. He also stated that their visit to the occupied area of Cyprus is very important since they were informed about the latest developments on the Cyprus talks and because, as he alleged, they were able to correct the false information they receive in their countries about the procedure.

(CS)

[04] Ataoglu continues the promotion of the breakaway regime's tourism in Iran

Speaking during the meeting Ataoglu alleged that the Iranian people could get out of the dangerous atmosphere of the Middle East and enjoy a safe vacation in Cyprus. He also reminded that events for promoting tourism in the breakaway regime will take place in the Iranian cities of Tehran and Tabriz.

In the framework of his contacts, Ataoglu visited a Turkish school in Iran and invited the students to the breakaway regime.

(CS)

[05] Occupied Geunyeli "municipality" signed the "subscription agreement" in order to receive the water transferred from Turkey

After this development all 28 "municipalities" of the breakaway regime will receive water from the project.

(CS)

[06] Saner said that 2,967 persons were benefited in one month by the "labor amnesty"

They were also benefited by the "immigrants' amnesty" which was taking place at the same time.

Speaking exclusively to Yeni Duzen newspaper, Saner stated that soon after the "order" of the "constitutional court" was issued, the applications' submission was ended.

He also reminded that due to similar decisions regarding "amnesty" 1,613 persons were benefited, in 2007, 2,122 persons in 2008, 9,543 persons in 2011-2012 and 1,109 persons in 2014-2015.

(CS)

[07] The movement "We are gathering" filed a lawsuit at the so-called "higher administration board"

Stating that according to the "article 10 of the TRNC's constitution", only the "TRNC's government" has the "authority" for the "appointment" of the "chairman of the TRNC's central bank" and the "chairman of the civil defense organization", the movement described the above appointment as illegal and contrary to the "constitution".

(AK)

[08] Yildirim announced a new medium-term economic program

In statements on Tuesday outlining the new medium-term economic program by the government, Yildirim said: "On our path to the 2023 targets, Turkey's growth rate will never be lower than 5 %".

"2017-19 annual growth will be at least 5%," he said.

"The program cuts the growth forecast for this year to 3.2% from 4.5% in the previous report", Yildirim said adding that Turkey, since 2003, has remained committed to fiscal discipline. "It is an indispensable pillar of our economy," Yildirim said.

He added that the inflation will fall from the current annual rate of 7.5%. "The inflation target is 6.5% for 2017 and 5% for 2018, according to the economic program", Yildirim said, noting that those numbers were calculated bearing in mind the worst-case scenarios.

"Turkey, with a growth rate twice the world average, will continue uninterrupted with structural reforms," he said.

The government forecast that the budget deficit will drop below 1.9% in 2017, with the narrowing trend continuing in 2018.

[09] Demirtas: "AKP government is stupid"

"No offence, but this government is the most stupid government in the world ... The AKP's weakest spot is always being fooled," Demirtas said during parliamentary group meeting of his party in Ankara on October 4..

"There is no TV station left that will broadcast this speech. [The AKP] thinks people will support it if they don't hear the truth. But yet again someone has fooled them again. We are the only ones who haven't fooled them," Demirtas added.

Demirtas criticized the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), accusing them of "kneeling down in front of the Presidential Palace."

"There is nobody other than us resisting, no hope other than us. They are all as timid as mice in front of the Presidential Palace," Demirtas said, adding that there are now "only two parties in Parliament."

"But this is not the time to be afraid. If we have to pay a price for freedom, then we will pay that price. We won't surrender ... Resistance against cruelty is a legitimate right," he vowed.

Demirtas harshly slammed the recent shutting down of radio stations and TV channels in state of emergency decrees made after the coup attempt.

"If the outlets that were closed down had sold their honor, it would be Ministers visiting them rather than the police," added Demirtas.

[10] 'Turkish Pentagon' to be formed in Ankara

The move comes after the government decided to move all military units to outside central areas of cities.

The area in Etimesgut will become a "security campus" similar to the Pentagon in the U.S. and security institutions will reportedly carry out their activities from one center.

The construction of the MIT's new building in the area is ongoing and the agency will move there from Ankara's Yenimahalle district when construction is completed. It will be joined by the Defense Ministry, the Turkish General Staff and other military departments in the same area.

New buildings will reportedly be constructed for the Defense Ministry and the General Staff, with the Ground, Naval and Air Forces moving to those buildings.

The current buildings of the General Staff and other military departments will be protected due to their "historical characteristics," Haberturk reported, adding that they are planned to be used by other state institutions including the Interior Ministry.

(…)

[11] The chairman of the Turkish settlers' party defends their right to come to "power" in the occupied area of Cyprus

Addressing the meeting yesterday, Arikli said that their party has two main principles: "Our doors are open to everyone who calls Turkey 'my motherland' and believes in the TRNC".

Arikli alleged that since the establishment of the YDP had been announced, some circles attacked it and tried to brand it as separatist. He claimed the following:

"We are accepting everyone who bears the TRNC identity as blessed consignment of Allah and we consider as discriminatory stance to subject to discrimination, because of their place of birth, the people who came here after 1974 and hold this place as their homeland. It is a mean stance to accuse of separatism those who started off for eliminating racism. Is there a law which prevents the people who have been living here for 42 years from establishing a party? Among us we have many founders of Cypriot origin. If they had not been there, what difference would it make? Are the identity cards of the people from Turkey insufficient on the issue of establishing a political party? According to some, should these people have only the right of voting and be deprived of the right of being elected and administrating the state?"

(I/Ts.)

[12] Tunali "We became a cemetery of universities"

Stating that every passing day the "sector of universities" in the "TRNC" is developing fearlessly, Tunali stressed that the "TRNC" became a "cemetery of universities" and added that his party does not approve the attempts of some circles aiming to open more "universities" in the "TRNC".

Also, referring to the Cyprus problem, Tunali stated that they will support Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci's efforts for reaching to a solution on the Cyprus problem until the end.

Referring to the issue of guarantees, he stressed the need for the continuation of Turkey's guarantees in a possible solution, arguing that the Turkish Cypriots experienced difficult days in the past.

(AK)

[13] Columnist: It looks like the state of emergency in Turkey will come over to the occupied area of Cyprus

The columnist refers to the issue under the title "TRNC: Small Cyprus Republic of Turkey" [Translator's note: The initials of the breakaway regime in Turkish is "KKTC", which comes from the name "Kuzey Kibris Turk Cumhuriyeti" or "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". The columnist explains the "KKTC" as "Kucuk Kibris Turkiye Cumhuriyeti" or "Small Cyprus Republic of Turkey" in English].

Ozuslu recalls of statements made both by the Turkish Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim and self-styled minister of agriculture Nazim Cavusoglu that "whatever exists in Turkey it will exist in the TRNC as well" and writes:

'[…] Transferring whatever exists in Turkey here is actually a political preference. Binali Yildirim could have said that 'we will make you a small Turkey'. He would not have lied, because we have become [a small Turkey] a long time ago. We are living in the Small Cyprus Republic of Turkey. The administrators of Turkey are seeing this place as 'our land'. When they say 'our land', they mean 'their' land. In this case, we are at a level of a 'province', or even a 'town' here. And the embassy here is acting like a kaimakam, a district governorship etc. It behaves like a 'shadow government' in every issue.

There is a state of emergency now in Turkey. Prime Minister Yildirim had said after 15 of July that 'even three months might not be needed'. […] is it so easy for the state of to end? […] And it looks like the state of emergency will come over here.

The statements of the president of the Higher Education Council (YOK) regarding the universities in Cyprus, the prepared reports are like a signal for this. Recall, Mr Ozan Ceyhun had come to the island in the disguise of an Advisor of the 'Ministry of Foreign Affairs', hunted members of FETO and showed as target certain names and circles. He was silenced because of the reactions and went away, but perhaps a cauldron is still boiling somewhere. Since 'whatever exists in Turkey, it will also exist in Cyprus', we should be prepared. Because the witch hunt is continuing in Turkey. […] Democracy has been shelved a long time ago. The human rights are being violated continuously. The social lynching continues. […]

Being related in everything with Turkey, this form of 'flesh and nail' relation, which escalated especially with the behaviors of the existing partners in the government, is seriously threatening this small population from the social, cultural, political and democratic point of view. […]"

(I/Ts.) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK/AM)

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