Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-11-08

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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] Nami: "The two sides in Cyprus are currently undertaking a period of reflection following the failure of the solution conference

[02] Kurtulmus: "Cyprus is a part of our soul"

[03] Ataoglu: Advertisements in Britain will be put at appropriate places aiming at sustainable number of tourists

[04] Akinci met with members of the bi-communal Technical Committee on the Enviroment

[05] Zaroglu "appeals" against his conviction - "Lawsuits" for sexual harassment by Derya– Settlers call on war veterans to sue Derya

[06] Occupied Keryneia's population has reportedly exceeded 100,000

[07] The occupation regime "distributed" 260 "rural plots of land" in five different occupied villages

[08] Survey showed that there is no support for the presidential system in the occupied area of Cyprus

[09] Erdogan once again vows to 'clear FETO from state'

[10] PM Y?ld?r?m demands probe into offshore account allegations

[11] CHP head calls for snap elections for resigned and dismissed Mayors in Turkey

[12] Istanbul court rejects CHP MP Berberoglu retrial appeal, keeps 25-year jail sentence

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Nami: "The two sides in Cyprus are currently undertaking a period of reflection following the failure of the solution conference

He said that consultations with Turkey on the Cyprus problem are also continuing.

Speaking on BRT, Nami said that no new developments are expected on the Cyprus problem before the Presidential elections are held in "south Cyprus" next year.

"Once the elections in the south are held, the UN Secretary General will hold contacts with both leaders. However it's too early to speculate on the format of these meetings" he added.

Claiming that all aspects of the Cyprus problem had been discussed to this date; the Turkish Cypriot negotiator expressed the view that there was no need for a new and long preparatory process. He said that any future talks had to focus on settling several main issues.

Nami also claimed that "the Turkish Cypriots should be awarded with something tangible or concrete if the outcome of any future settlement referendum was to be once again approved by the Turkish Cypriots and rejected by the Greek Cypriots".

He however claimed that despite the recent setbacks in efforts to achieve a solution to the Cyprus problem, the Turkish Cypriot side remained committed towards achieving a federal settlement.

"The process is neither over, dead or buried. The basis for a federal settlement has not been scrapped. We are however not at a stage where we will restrict ourselves. We are continuing to assess and evaluate the situation. What is certain is that some things must change. Repeating the same process will not take us anywhere. We need to be result oriented and focused" he argued.

Nami also underlined the importance of continuing to work towards building trust and confidence between the two sides in the absence of a settlement.

"How are the two peoples on the island supposed to grow closer if you shut down all means of cooperation and communication? The Greek Cypriot leadership too cannot maintain forever its strategy of keeping the Turkish Cypriots under isolation" he claimed.

Responding to a question on the issue of guarantees, Nami reiterated the Turkish Cypriot side's position that it was out of the question to accept any settlement which risked the security of the Turkish Cypriots.

[02] Kurtulmus: "Cyprus is a part of our soul"

He made these statements while visiting the "TRNC pavilion" at the World Travel Market (WTM), which will be open through November 9 in east London's ExCeL convention center. Kurtulmus, who also met with the so-called minister of tourism Fikri Ataolglu and said that the representation of the "TRNC" to this and similar tourism exhibitions, which attracts over 50,000 visitors every year, is a "quite valuable and important" development.

"We need to use every platform to promote northern Cyprus", he said, adding that "northern Cyprus is truly a place of great natural beauty." As he said the value of a country is reminded with tourism, adding that those who visit "northern Cyprus" they learn first for the "TRNC's existence" and then get to know the "country". "I find this to be extremely important", he stated.

(CS)

[03] Ataoglu: Advertisements in Britain will be put at appropriate places aiming at sustainable number of tourists

Ataoglu also claimed that a great interest is exhibited for the breakaway regime's stand at the exhibition and argued that Britain is a very important market for the occupied area of Cyprus and they will continue their promotion activities for increasing this market.

Ataoglu noted that their target is to create a sustainable tourism and expressed the belief that they can achieve this together with all the stakeholders in the field of tourism.

Noting that they observed that there was a decrease in the British market according to the past years, Ataoglu said that have carried out the necessary effort for reaching an adequate number of tourists. Recalling that they have carried out a promotion activity last year in Britain, Ataoglu argued that after this promotion there was an increase in the number of tourists from Britain. Pointing out that such promotion activities will continue within the next few days, Ataoglu said that the advertisements will be put at places which will be considered appropriate and that their target is to have a "sustainable number of tourists" from Britain.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Akinci met with members of the bi-communal Technical Committee on the Enviroment

According to a written statement issued by the "presidency", Akinci was briefed by the Committee about its work. Also, the general coordinator of the committee Mehmet Samami briefed during the meeting Akinci about the feasibility study which was prepared for the rehabilitation project for the Pedieos river.

(AK)

[05] Zaroglu "appeals" against his conviction - "Lawsuits" for sexual harassment by Derya– Settlers call on war veterans to sue Derya

Meanwhile, YDP's vice chairman Mustafa Ulas issued a statement yesterday alleging that Zaroglu will "appeal" to the "high court" and "justice will be served" there. He claimed: "As a party, we call on all our war veterans who came to the island for the salvation of the Turks of Cyprus and mainly on the Peace Operation Veterans association and our victims' families to file lawsuits against Mrs Dogus Derya. The expenses of all lawsuits which will be filed will be covered by our party".

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (08.11.17) reports that the examination of another "lawsuit" for sexual harassment filed by Derya against Zaroglu and five other persons will begin tomorrow. The other five persons are the following: Kenan Akin, former self-styled minister of the breakaway regime [Translator's note: An international Interpol arrest warrant has been pending against him since 1996 for the murder of Greek Cypriot demonstrator Solomos Solomou in no man's land in Deryneia area], Latif Akca, chairman of the association for preserving Rauf Raif Denktas memory and ideas, Rifat Yildiz, Ali Tekin and Kemal Ozkan Cakiroz.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Occupied Keryneia's population has reportedly exceeded 100,000

During the protest, which was supported by Turkish Cypriot primary and secondary school teachers' trade unions, KTOS and KTOEOS respectively, it was emphasized that the population of occupied Keryneia, which was 7,000 in 1974, exceeded 100,000 today and that during the 43 years passed since then only one primary school and one secondary school were built in Keryneia.

Meanwhile, a temporary solution was found to the problem as 83 children who have not been able to go to school since the beginning of the year, will be placed in empty classes of the illegal American university of Keryneia's kinder garden.

(I/Ts.)

[07] The occupation regime "distributed" 260 "rural plots of land" in five different occupied villages

Speaking during the special ceremony organized yesterday, so-called prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun claimed that by "protecting their territories and land, the youth send messages to south Cyprus and the supporters of Enosis". Ozgurgun reiterated also the allegation that "when the state provides help to youth, this means protection of our territories".

Also speaking, so-called minister of interior Kutlu Evren explained that the 96 "rural plots of land" are located in the occupied village of Komi Kepir, the 83 in occupied Eptakomi, 25 in the occupied village of Tavros, 14 in occupied Mandres and 42 in the occupied village Gerani. Recalling that problems of infrastructure were experienced in several "plots of land" being "distributed" to "youth" in the past, Evren announced that infrastructure works will be launched the soonest possible in occupied Komi Kepir and Eptakomi, adding that in the other three villages the "works" will be launched right after the "elections".

(AK)

[08] Survey showed that there is no support for the presidential system in the occupied area of Cyprus

Among the questions asked by the research company Target was the presidential system, which has been recently voiced frequently.

The paper reports that the presidential system, which comes to the agenda from time to time as an alternative to the "parliamentary system" in the occupied area of Cyprus, did not find the expected support. Only the 20% of the respondents supported the transition to the presidential system in the occupied area of Cyprus, while the 76% of the respondents were against it.

Meanwhile, the 35% of the respondents want the implementation of Turkey's Presidential system in the occupied area of Cyprus, while the 62% of the respondents said that this system is not suitable for the "TRNC".

[09] Erdogan once again vows to 'clear FETO from state'

"We will clear the state mechanism of them, we will clean it. Without this sterilization, our state mechanism will not work comfortably," Erdogan said on Nov. 7, addressing the AKP's party group at Parliament.

"It is all clear how they organized themselves within our armed forces, how they organized within our police force, how they infiltrated our state's institutions," he added.

In addition, Sabah (08.11.17) reports that stressing that the constitutional changes approved in the April 16 referendum will be put into practice with the 2019 elections, Erdogan said that his party has already knuckled down to work to rebuild the country's administrative structure.

President Erdogan described the upcoming 2019 elections as more crucial than the Nov. 3 elections, that brought the AK Party to power alone in 2002, and urged all party members to exert afforts to achieve the same success

The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has already started working towards winning the 2019 elections, which according to party Chairman President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be as crucial as the Nov. 3, 2002 elections. Speaking at his party's parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan said the upcoming elections "will be as crucial a turning point for the party and the country as the Nov. 3 elections were." "Our party, established on Aug. 14, 2001, finished first in the [2002] elections with 34% of the vote and came to power alone. We had a 63% majority in Parliament," Erdogan said, adding that it was the highest percentage since the 1980s.

[10] PM Y?ld?r?m demands probe into offshore account allegations

"My main advice to my sons (as I handed them my business) was that they would not use any government funds or cooperate with the government while executing their businesses," Y?ld?r?m said.

"(My sons) are doing business all over the world; nothing is hidden," the Prime Minister added, saying the claims attempt to "unjustly" defame him.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu criticized Y?ld?r?m for "not paying taxes," referring to the Paradise Papers revelations.

"A politician should set an example to citizens. If you want something from the people, first you have to do it yourself [as a politician]. If you ask people to pay their taxes, why do you not pay them?" K?l?cdaroglu said.

"Why are you establishing companies in Malta? Why in a tax haven? You are telling citizens to pay taxes but you are taking your earnings elsewhere," he added.

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), meanwhile, will issue a parliamentary motion demanding an investigation into the issue, its co-leader Serpil Kemalbay has said.

"The Prime Minister has said everything is normal and that his sons are engaging in business. He says he has immunity but his sons do not. So now we'll issue a parliamentary motion for an investigation. If you think there should be an investigation, as the AKP you should support this motion," Kemalbay said on Nov. 7, addressing the HDP's party group.

"The AKP-presidential palace power, which calls on others to invest in our country, is making its own investments in Malta, in tax havens. They present themselves as patriots to the public, but we see that their patriotism is for Malta. Their love of the flag is love for the flag of Malta," she added.

According to papers published and reported by German daily Suddeutsche Zeitung, in cooperation with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), in which Turkish daily Cumhuriyet is a media partner, there are a total of eight Malta-based companies affiliated with Y?ld?r?m's sons, uncles and nephews.

The Paradise Papers stated that the Turkish Prime Minister's sons, Erkam Y?ld?r?m and Bulent Y?ld?r?m, have a total of five companies based on the low-tax Mediterranean island.

One of the companies, the Black Eagle Marine Co Ltd, was founded on Oct. 7, 2007, involved in the buying and selling of sea vessels and providing credit to third parties, the papers revealed, Cumhuriyet reported.

Another one, the Hawke Bay Marine Co Ltd. was founded on April 1, 2004 and remained active until April 2007, engaging in the same activities as the Black Eagle Marine Co Ltd.

Erkam Y?ld?r?m is also reportedly associated with three other companies through the South Seas Shipping company, which is a shareholder in Hawke Bay Marine Co Ltd and Black Eagle Marine Co Ltd.

[11] CHP head calls for snap elections for resigned and dismissed Mayors in Turkey

"Let's hold a snap election for the Mayors who were either resigned or dismissed. Let's show respect for the national will," K?l?cdaroglu said on Nov. 7, addressing his party group at Parliament.

Reiterating his earlier call on the government to bring forward all three elections due to be held in 2019 in a bid to "save the honor of democracy," the CHP leader said he was now "softening his call so they do not get afraid."

Speaking after the resignation of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Mayors of provinces including Ankara, Istanbul, Bursa and Bal?kesir, K?l?cdaroglu said "50% of people in Turkey are now governed by somebody they did not even elect."

He pledged that the CHP is willing to give all necessary legislative support for any regulation needed to hold snap elections in the districts where the mayoralties are vacant.

K?l?cdaroglu referred to the constitutional article stipulating snap parliamentary elections in the event that 5% of all parliamentary representative posts are vacant, saying that a similar regulation can be made for mayoralties.

"Let's craft a special regulation. Let us give all kinds of support. Why are you afraid?" he said.

The AKP recently reshuffled its party organization ahead of the 2019 triple elections, trying to avoid what AKP leader and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls "metal fatigue."

Erdogan says the moves are part of "regeneration efforts" in the party.

[12] Istanbul court rejects CHP MP Berberoglu retrial appeal, keeps 25-year jail sentence

The Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court said in its ruling that an Istanbul regional court order to retry the Deputy violated the principle and the law, handing the file back to the appeals court.

It noted that the appeals court had the full authority to review the case and said there is no need for it to carry out the retrial order.

The reversal of the decision by the appeals court is "without due process of law and is against the law," so the high criminal court has no room to reach a verdict in the case, said the decision.

An Istanbul regional court ordered a retrial for Berberoglu on Oct. 9, reversing a previous ruling by a local court that ordered 25 years in jail in the case of allegedly weapons-loaded National Intelligence Organization (MIT) trucks bound for Syria.

Berberoglu was sentenced to 25 years in prison on June 14 for allegedly "leaking state secrets" in the MIT trucks case, in which he is accused of providing daily Cumhuriyet with a video purporting to show the intelligence agency trucking weapons for Syria.

The Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court had ruled that Berberoglu, the first CHP lawmaker to be given prison time, had "knowingly helped a terror organization" by providing "state secrets" to the media when gendarmerie forces halted the trucks near the Syrian border on Jan. 19, 2014.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS / AM)

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