Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-03-24

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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] Turkey reportedly reduces and withdraws troops from the occupation regime to reinforce its units ahead of the fight against the PKK

[02] Pitella met with Akinci and Talat

[03] Kalyoncu: "The government will introduce several bills for the country's security"

[04] Erdogan: Turkey informed Belgium over attacker's terrorist links

[05] Cavusoglu and Blinken discussed the fight against terrorism and regional issues including Cyprus

[06] "Officials" from the CMP briefed about excavations

[07] Ten new "universities" are on the way to be established in the occupied area of Cyprus

[08] AKP to prepare its own draft of new charter before May

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey reportedly reduces and withdraws troops from the occupation regime to reinforce its units ahead of the fight against the PKK

According to reliable sources, commando units in the areas of occupied Agia Eirini and Mirtou were totally depleted. Also, the number of personnel in all military units in the "north" has been reduced and the number of several troop units including the front-lines has been reduced by two thirds. As it is said, all operations were carried out in secrecy.

The paper adds that as it was made known, Turkey continues intensively its fight against the PKK in the southeast. The terror alarm in the country is on the highest level. It was made known that the Turkish troops from Cyprus were sent to Turkey for reinforcement, writes the paper.

(AK)

[02] Pitella met with Akinci and Talat

Self-styled undersecretary of the foreign affairs ministry Erhan Ercin, Akinci's special secretary Cenk Gurcag, Akinci's advisor on political affairs and history Meltem Onurkan Samani and Akinci's foreign affairs coordinator Deniz Birinci were also present at the meeting.

Moreover, the paper reports that Pitella and his accompanying delegation, who also met with Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said that he was still in shock about what happened in Brussels on Tuesday and expressed the need for all countries to adopt a joint strategy when fighting terrorism.

Stating that Europe is not an enemy but an ally, he said that this message should be sent clearly to all Muslims. "We do not want an inter-religious war", he stressed.

Commenting on the Cyprus talks, Pitella said that he is visiting the island to contribute to peace and the reunification process, adding that they support a solution on the island based on the EU values and the UN Resolutions.

For his part, CTP leader Talat also said that the terrorist attacks in Brussels are shocking, adding that a common strategy is necessary for the fight against terrorism.

Pointing out that terrorism does not only occur between Islam and Christianity, he reminded that there have also been numerous terrorist attacks in Turkey recently.

Noting that the same people are behind the terrorist attacks in Turkey and Brussels, he said that humanity should find ways to put an end to terrorism.

Refusing to comment too much on the security measures against terrorism, Talat said that while these measures on the one hand are very important in terms of preventing terrorist attacks, on the other hand, these also obstruct daily life.

Expressing satisfaction over the visit, Talat said that they are ready to attend the meetings of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats which he said they are in cooperation with.

(DPs)

[03] Kalyoncu: "The government will introduce several bills for the country's security"

Stating that their aim is to reinforce the "security forces" and the "police", Kalyoncu stressed that the "government" had already prepared and will submit to the "assembly" for approval several bills.

Referring to accusations against him and Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci on their participation to Nevruz celebrations, Kalyoncu denied that their participation meant that they support the terrorists and the PKK and said that all these accusations by several social media and newspapers, is a product of fascist approaches.

(AK)

[04] Erdogan: Turkey informed Belgium over attacker's terrorist links

Erdogan said that Turkish authorities informed the Belgian Embassy in Ankara in a note on July 14, 2015, that one of the Brussels' attackers was a foreign fighter, but that Belgian authorities had released him after Turkey deported him.

"One of the perpetrators of the Brussels attack is a person whom we detained in June 2015 in [the south-eastern province of] Gaziantep and deported", Erdogan said at a joint press conference with his Romanian counterpart in Ankara.

"We informed the Brussels Embassy of the deportation process of the attacker with a note on July 14, 2015. However, the Belgians released the attacker despite his deportation", Erdogan said. Despite this information, the Belgians could not determine any ties with terrorism, he said.

Erdogan continued by saying that the Netherlands was also involved in the matter as the suspect was deported to the Netherlands at his own request and the Dutch authorities were also informed about the incident. He added that Turkey deported the attacker to the Netherlands in June 2015 and informed them via a note. The President also said that the world has to "redefine terror, terrorism and terrorists".

[05] Cavusoglu and Blinken discussed the fight against terrorism and regional issues including Cyprus

Cavusoglu and Blinken also discussed bilateral ties, regional and global developments as well as Syria, Iraq and Cyprus issues in the meeting.

Recent terrorist attacks in Turkey and Belgium also came up during the exchange of views, sources added. Cavusoglu and Blinken also discussed details about the agreement on refugees between Turkey and the EU.

[06] "Officials" from the CMP briefed about excavations

According to statements made by officials from the Turkish Cypriot Members' office, during the excavations which were taking place in an area near the occupied Epiho dump side, the remains of 5 Greek Cypriot missing persons were found.

At the same time, the Committee writes the paper will launch new excavations today in occupied Dikomo. The "officials" said that the excavation works will be launched inside the village after they evaluated information that around 14 Greek Cypriot persons were buried there.

Also, the excavations in occupied Agios Georgios, Vouno and Mia Milia villages and in Paphos and Lefkosia in the Republic of Cyprus are in progress.

Moreover, the "officials" said that a mass grave was found in occupied Epiho village, belonging to a group of Greek Cypriot soldiers.

Referring to the excavations in occupied Agios Georgios Keryneia, the "officials" stated that the remains of a Greek Cypriot were found near a garage. Concerning the excavation works taking place in military zones in Agios Georgios, no remains were found yet, said the "officials".

(AK)

[07] Ten new "universities" are on the way to be established in the occupied area of Cyprus

Stating that there are 13 "universities" in the "TRNC" until so far with 85.000 students, Durust said that the final permission for the establishment of new "universities" will be given by the so-called Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council ("YODAK"), which will examine whether these meet the criteria.

Durust also said that the "authority" for "giving permission" for the establishment of a "university" should be given to the "parliament" and added that a "University law" is into the agenda of the "government".

(AK)

[08] AKP to prepare its own draft of new charter before May

"We will start writing the draft next week after establishing a team tasked to this end by taking our previous work on the new charter into consideration," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said during an address to his AKP's provincial organizations on March 23.

Davutoglu said that the AKP was planning to complete the writing process of the new Constitution by the end of April and then submit it to Parliament. "I will participate in the [drafting] work, as well", he said. The decision to go ahead with the new charter was given late on March 22 at an AKP central-decision making body meeting, in which senior party officials also drew a road map for the process.

"Following detailed and productive consultations, we have decided to take rapid and decisive steps in a bid to meet the expectations of our people for the new Constitution," the Prime Minister said, adding that they also drew up a general framework of the charter. The new charter will bring about the presidential system, he stated.

Having 317 seats in parliament, the AKP needs an additional 14 votes from other parties to be able to take its constitutional draft to a referendum. In earlier remarks, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted at an alliance between the AKP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to this end. However, the MHP has also stated its opposition to a presidential system. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/AM)

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