Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-10-19

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CONTENTS

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: "We could try once more for a solution if there is a serious change of mentality in the Greek Cypriot side"

[02] The date of the "early elections" to be decided on November 3rd

[03] The "council of ministers" announced that they will change to winter time due to "early elections"

[04] Veysel Eroglu: "TRNC owes its water supply to Turkish technology

[05] Ozyigit: "We should stop following Turkey's education curriculum"

[06] Churches in occupied Eptakomi used as school's warehouse

[07] Erdogan: Turkey may soon close the Iraqi border

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: "We could try once more for a solution if there is a serious change of mentality in the Greek Cypriot side"

Addressing an economic and political seminar at the illegal "Technological University of the Middle East � North Cyprus", Akinci alleged that Crans Montana was considered as the "last stop" for reaching a solution after Mont Pelerin and Geneva. He reiterated the allegation that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side exhibited a "reasonable approach" and that the Greek Cypriot side has not exhibited a similar approach. In spite of this, the door for dialogue is not closed by the Turkish side, he claimed, adding that "as long as there is a problem, the quests for a solution will continue". He alleged:

"Different solution perspectives might be developed, but whatever will happen, will happen through negotiations. Even division will happen through negotiations, through consensus. We will not close the doors for dialogue, but it is obvious that no meeting can be held during this period".

Referring to the policy to be followed from now on, Akinci alleged that "open-ended negotiations cannot continue" and that another effort could be carried out on the condition that there is a serious change in the mentality of the Greek Cypriot side. He also claimed the following: "In a possible solution, the TRNC will take its place as founding state. If there is no solution, it will continue in this manner. There is no need for new quests".

Akinci also underlined the importance of the "TRNC's" development and noted that they should not postpone the solution of many problems, which are not related with the Cyprus problem and could be settled.

After his speech, Akinci replied to students' questions.

(I/Ts.)

[02] The date of the "early elections" to be decided on November 3rd

The "head of the committee", and "deputy" with the National Unity Party Izlem Gurcag stated that the "changes will be presented to deputies on Monday to be voted on".

Gurcag also gave information regarding the way the "people" will be able to cast their "votes" and the form in which the ballot papers will be prepared..

Asked on the "election process", Ms. Gurcag stated that "the date for the early elections remains as the 7th of January and within this framework the legal affairs and the foreign relations committee will be convening on the 3rd of November".

"After a decision is taken by the committee, there is a 5 day waiting period so in order to be able to go to early elections on the 7th of January, on the 13th of November the decision will be on the agenda of the plenary session at the republic's assembly and therefore the process will begin" said Gurcag.

[03] The "council of ministers" announced that they will change to winter time due to "early elections"

It was also announced that their previous "decision" on September 18 that the "summer time" would continue was annulled with the justification that there will be "early elections". The "council of ministers" also announced that they do not consider appropriate at this stage, where the "early elections" are in the agenda, to make a "legal amendment" in order for the economic, cultural and social relations between Turkey and the "TRNC" to be harmonized.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (19.10.17), commenting on the new "decision of the council of ministers", reports that "no one can make the connection between the time zone and the elections".

(DPs)

[04] Veysel Eroglu: "TRNC owes its water supply to Turkish technology

"If it weren't for Turkish technology, nobody would be able to supply water to Cyprus", the Turkish minister alleged during a meeting with the so-called agriculture and natural resources Minister Naz?m Cavusoglu.

Eroglu said that Turkey "is among the top three in terms of water projects."

He also said that water supply projects for the agriculture sector that would contribute to the economy of the breakaway regime by increasing the product range were also completes.

A total of 37.5 million cubic meters of water out of 75 million cubic meters would be used for agriculture sector, Eroglu said, adding that he rest would be used in the industrial sector or as potable water.

"A power line route will differ from that of the water supply project between Turkey and the TRNC", he stated. The project supplies 30 million cubic meters of water every year.

[05] Ozyigit: "We should stop following Turkey's education curriculum"

Speaking during the meeting, Ozyigit stressed the need for the abolishment of the obligation to follow the same education curriculum which is followed in Turkey. "Quran and theological lessons should not be included in our educational mentality", Ozyigit said. He also called the "government" to determine "a state policy" on the "educational sector".

In his turn, Selma Eylem, chairperson of "KTOEOS", underlined the fact that their education system in the "TRNC" is implemented in parallel with Turkey's educational system, arguing that the education in the "TRNC" is based on religious and national values and is deviating from science and knowledge.

Eylem referred also to other problems experienced in the "educational system", due to the "uncontrolled population flow" in the "country" and the insufficiencies and lack of infrastructure at "schools".

(�)

(AK)

[06] Churches in occupied Eptakomi used as school's warehouse

Akansoy, who photographed the condition of the churches, stressed that their condition causes unrest and that the churches, which have high historical value, should be protected and opened to tourism.

(DPs)

[07] Erdogan: Turkey may soon close the Iraqi border

"Our talks [with Iraq] on what we can do are continuing. If they [the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government] hand over the border gate to the central government, we'll set the condition [that the central government] must meet all the needs of the people under the northern Iraqi administration. We have not yet closed the gates, but this could happen at any time," Erdogan told reporters while returning from Poland.

He said that a delegation of "three or four ministers" from Ankara, under Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, could visit Baghdad soon and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi could then come to Ankara upon his invitation "to evaluate all issues together."

Recalling that Ankara explained its opposition to the KRG's independence referendum to the leaders of the KRG a number of times, Erdogan accused the Arbil government of "trying to seize Kirkuk and other regions like an occupying force."

"Now [different Kurdish groups] are at odds with each other, accusing each other of selling them out," he said.

Upon a question of the role of the Shiite Iranian-backed Hashd-i Shabi militia, Erdogan denied claims that Turkey is in indirect cooperation with the group.

"There is news that Hashd-i Shabi has seized the Sinjar and Makhmur regions. If this is real, then we might have to start new work with our counterparts," he said.

On the ongoing visa crisis with the United States, Erdogan said a delegation from the U.S. State Department held talks in Ankara on Oct. 18. "I don't see this as a long-lasting problem. I hope talks will yield results in the shortest period of time and our relations will return to normal when we leave the visa problem behind," he added.

Asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's strong criticism against the nuclear deal with Iran, suggesting fresh sanctions on the Iranian government, Erdogan said Turkey's position on Iran "has not changed."

"Currently Israel is supporting the U.S. sanctions on Iran, but we don't know the positions of other countries. Those who impose sanctions on Iran should better look at themselves [on nuclear technology]. Problems need to be resolved with goodwill and diplomacy," he said.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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