Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-01-31

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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] Ertug: "The security criterion is all along an indispensable part of the territory"

[02] Tatar criticized Akinci for submitting a map at the negotiations

[03] Arikli argued that the time has come for the YDP to rule

[04] Izcan: "There is no other alternative than the federal solution in Cyprus"

[05] Turkey and the breakaway regime signed a "law ?on consumer rights

[06] An expert says that unemployment and poverty the two main problems experienced in the "TRNC" )

[07] The residents of occupied Agios Ermolaos feel shame for the bad situation of the Greek Cypriot cemetery

[08] The CONIFA will held its "2017 European Football Cup" in the occupied area of Cyprus

[09] Erdogan expected to sign charter changes this week for early April referendum

[10] HDP MPs say detentions, arrests aimed at blocking the party during referendum campaign

[11] Turkish government criticizes Trump's immigration ban on Muslim countries

[12] Turkish Deputy PM invites Trump-victim foreigners to Turkey

[13] Turkey reopens embassy in Libyan capital

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Ertug: "The security criterion is all along an indispensable part of the territory"

In the letter sent on 24 January, Olgun notes that 29+% had come onto the agenda in the 1980's during former UNSG Perez de Cuellar period, within the framework of a Draft Agreement and a Draft Framework Agreement. He further says that until that day the Turkish Cypriot side had been expressing the position that the territory should not be discussed on the basis of numbers or percentages, but on the basis of the criteria which are included in the Makarios ? Denktas (1977) and Kyprianou- Denktas (1979) High Level Agreements. According to Olgun, these were criteria such as the economic viability, fertility and security, which are also valid today.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Tatar criticized Akinci for submitting a map at the negotiations

Tatar who issued a written statement accused Akinci for making things easier for the Greek Cypriot side and called him on to evaluate better the different views of Turkey, the "TRNC parliament", the "government" and the Turkish Cypriot political parties on the Cyprus developments.

Tatar also argued that Akinci put Turkey in a difficult position because he stopped the Turkish guarantees from being a taboo.

(CS)

[03] Arikli argued that the time has come for the YDP to rule

Speaking at a YDP meeting in occupied Galatia village, Arikli claimed: "The time has come. From now on, we will govern this country together. We will not consent to those who condescend us. We will demand what is our right".

(DPs)

[04] Izcan: "There is no other alternative than the federal solution in Cyprus"

Izcan stated also that Greece has asked for the postponement of the international conference before even been started and Turkey has shown a very hard stance on the issue of guarantees and achieved to lead the process into a deadlock by demanding the four freedoms in Cyprus for the 80 million Turkish population.

Expressing the view that a good preparation is necessary in the current phase of the Cyprus problem, Izcan added that after the Geneva talks the process has entered into stagnation. He also stressed the need for the core issues which remain open to be discussed in Cyprus and close. "On the one hand, it will be a big mistake to leave all issues that remain unsolved to be discussed in an international conference and on the other hand it is something that will not contribute to the solution of the problem", Izcan also said.

(AK)

[05] Turkey and the breakaway regime signed a "law" on consumer rights

Two "draft laws" regarding cooperation in these fields were approved by the so-called parliament yesterday.

Speaking in "parliament" before "approving the law", the Republican Turkish Party "deputy" Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that the cooperation "protocol law" was positive.

Pointing out that consumers in the breakaway regime needed their rights to be protected, Soyer criticized the fact that GSM mobile subscribers were informed about a price hike only a day before it happened.

The "minister of public works and communication" Kemal Durust who also spoke during the debate reminded that the Republican Turkish Party had approved the rise in the price of GSM mobile fees every 6 months.

Independent "deputy" Mehmet Cakici who spoke on the issue argued that there was a serious lack of inspection regarding consumer rights in the breakaway regime.

UBP "deputy" Ersin Tatar said that it was important to "implement laws" regarding consumer rights and food safety standards.

Tatar also claimed that contracts signed with GSM operators needed to be reassessed.

The "minister of economy and energy" Sunat Atun who also spoke during the "parliamentary debate" said that the protection of consumer rights and the implementation of food safety "regulations" were important in "civilized and modern countries".

Stating that "a law for consumers did exist in the country", Atun stated that the "Competition Council and Arbitration Board" did possess the capacity to "rule" on matters and find solutions before disputed issues were taken to "court".

Atun also announced that the "law" was being harmonized with EU law and would be brought before the "parliament" soon, according to Bayrak.

[06] An expert says that unemployment and poverty the two main problems experienced in the "TRNC"

Referring to statistical figures of the "state", Celebioglu said that the unemployment rate in youth in the "TRNC" has reached to 19.6% and argued that until 2020 the number of unemployment persons is expected to be increased by 3,500 per year.

Pointing out that there are 40,000 "foreign workers" in the "TRNC", Celebioglu added further that 18,500 "workers" out of 110,000 in total are "civil servants" or "government officials".

Referring to the possibility of reaching to a solution on the Cyprus problem, Celebioglu said that in this case, there is no plan B' by the "government officials" concerning the corruption of the "civil service" in the "TRNC". He also urged the so-called government to undertake immediately measures for the "youth" of the "country".

(?)

(AK)

[07] The residents of occupied Agios Ermolaos feel shame for the bad situation of the Greek Cypriot cemetery

According to the photos published by the paper, it is hard to see some of the cross headstones through the thick weeds.

Residents of the occupied village of Agios Ermolaos told the paper that it is a shame of those who visit the cemetery to see it in such a bad condition, adding: "There is not respect even to the dead people. We feel shame to show the place to those who are asking. Regardless of your religious belief, the dead is dead. They have a right to be respected".

(DPs)

[08] The CONIFA will held its "2017 European Football Cup" in the occupied area of Cyprus

(DPs)

[09] Erdogan expected to sign charter changes this week for early April referendum

Review procedures by Parliament's legal units regarding the constitutional amendments were completed days ago after the motion's passage on Jan. 20. The charter is expected to be submitted to Erdogan on Feb. 2 or 3 amid heavy criticism from the main opposition Republican People's Party at the delay.

According to the law, the referendum should officially be held on the first Sunday after the 60th day following the signature of the President. After receiving the charter, Erdogan will submit the amendment package to the Prime Ministry to be published in the Official Gazette.

The AKP is withholding the charter in order to arrange the date of the referendum as April 9, given that Erdogan is expected to sign the charter on the same day that he receives it.

The date of the referendum would have been scheduled to take place on March 26 if the law had been presented to the President the day after it passed in Parliament. However, the government chose April instead to avoid conducting campaigns in winter conditions given that many village roads are almost inaccessible in winter in the east.

The Parliament, which is slated to resume works next, will take a recess ahead of the referendum after it has enacted several proposed laws regarding the economy. From the end of February, parliamentarians are expected to be in their electoral districts for 40 days of campaigning until April.

[10] HDP MPs say detentions, arrests aimed at blocking the party during referendum campaign

The objections came on the same day as arrested HDP Deputy Idris Baluken was released on probation in a case demanding an aggravated life sentence over alleged "links to terrorism."

HDP spokesperson Ayhan Bilgen, who was briefly detained on Jan. 29, issued a press statement after his release and said the government was trying to prevent the party's campaigning for a "no" vote in the upcoming referendum on charter amendments. Dozens of HDP Deputies and members have been detained and arrested following the lifting of their parliamentary immunity in a vote last year.

"Perhaps all this was done because the presidential [system] calculations were made much earlier, and to block our work," said Bilgen.

Bilgen was detained on Jan. 30 for the second time following a prosecutor's appeal.

Fellow HDP Deputy Altan Tan, who was also briefly detained on Jan. 28, said the detention of the party's lawmakers was an attempt by the government to block the work of the HDP against the amendments and to persuade Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) voters to opt for "yes."

"Firstly, how can someone who goes to court every day defend themselves also conduct work on the referendum? Secondly, there is an alliance between the [ruling Justice and Development Party] AKP and the MHP. But all polls currently show that at least half of the MHP's constituency will vote 'no' in the referendum. These detentions are apparently being carried out to try to persuade the MHP voters," said Tan.

[11] Turkish government criticizes Trump's immigration ban on Muslim countries

"Unfortunately, I am of the opinion that rising Islamophobia, xenophobia and anti-immigrant feelings have a great weight on this decision. Taking such a decision in a country like America where different ethnic and religious groups are able to co-exist is very offensive. This is not right," Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Numan Kurtulmus told daily Haberturk in an interview on Jan. 31.

"This is a discriminative decision. I hope they will correct it," he added.

Kurtulmus became the first Turkish government official to speak out against Trump's executive order that imposed a blanket travel restriction on the nationals of seven majority-Muslim countries: Syria, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Libya.

"No national from a certain country can be categorically deemed as bad," he said, emphasizing that the only way for democratic countries and the international community to fight terrorism was to establish a well-functioning network and strengthen the anti-terror coalition.

"Unfortunately, there are currently two lines working in parallel with each other. The first is Islamophobia and xenophobia, and the other is terror organizations like DAESH [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] that shed blood in the world by using the dark face of Islam and the behind-the-doors minds that control it. Both are serving the same purpose. Both are poisoning the lives of 1.7 billion Muslims. We should be awake on this," he stated.

January/31/2017

[12] Turkish Deputy PM invites Trump-victim foreigners to Turkey

"#RefugeesWelcome in #Turkey, the world's largest refugee hosting country. We'd happily welcome global talent not allowed back into the #USA," Simsek wrote in a tweet.

Trump signed a three-month ban on travelers from seven Muslim countries on Friday and suspended the arrival of refugees to the U.S. for at least 120 days, provoking criticism and protests around the world.

Amid growing global criticism, outrage from civil rights groups and legal challenges, Trump defended the ban on Sunday. He and senior aides sought to defend the policy and play down the chaos sparked by Friday's order.

[13] Turkey reopens embassy in Libyan capital

"Preparations supervised by our Ambassador to Libya, Ahmet Aydin Dogan (seated in Tunis until today) are now complete. As a result, activities of the Turkish Embassy in Tripoli have resumed today [Jan. 30] with a reduced staff at the initial stage," read a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement issued on Jan. 30. Turkey had high hopes for a strong alliance with Libya after the 2011 NATO-backed ouster of longtime strongman Muammar Gadhafi and was the first country to appoint an Ambassador to the new authorities in Tripoli in September 2011.

But Libya has been riven by lawlessness and violence ever since, with rival Parliaments and armed groups vying for control of the country and its vital oil wealth. "Turkey will continue to support the territorial integrity and national unity of brotherly Libya," the statement said.

"While enjoying close historical bonds of brotherhood and friendship with Libya, Turkey embraces all segments of the Libyan people. The reopening of the embassy will allow Turkey to make stronger contributions to efforts to build peace and stability, as well as reconstruction in Libya," it added. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS / AM)

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