Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-10-23

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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: We will facilitate solution by creating more powerful structures

[02] Akinci met with the US Ambassador to Cyprus

[03] Colak met with representatives of French media and think-tank organizations

[04] Talat says that the "common points" are continuously increasing

[05] Samani: "A federal laws working group is established"

[06] "Huge project in the surrounding area of Panagra dam"

[07] The breakaway regime will implement a "general health insurance" project within six months

[08] "DPO" announced that the "economy" of the occupation regime is expected to show a 3.5% growth annually

[09] Erdogan: "ISIL, PKK and Syria intelligence behind Ankara terrorist act"

[10] Davutoglu declares October 30 as administrative holiday to avoid possible voter absence

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: We will facilitate solution by creating more powerful structures

According to a press release by the "presidency", Akinci met yesterday with a delegation of the "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Artisans and Craftsmen" ("KTEZO") headed by their chairman Mahmut Kanber.

During the meeting, Kanber said: "We should not be afraid of fighting for the solution of the Cyprus problem, adding that they follow the progress on the Cyprus talks and expressed their desire to contribute to the solution. Kanber also shared "KTEZO's" activities with Akinci.

Referring to the importance of the contribution of organizations to the settlement, Kanbel said that the "Turkish Cypriot municipality" in the occupied part of Nicosia and the Nicosia Municipality are trying to organise a joint festival at Ledra Street.

Akinci, for his part, said: "We will facilitate solution by creating more powerful structures", adding that the dimensional efforts of the Chamber in the "North", in the "South", in Turkey and in the international area are important.

Noting that there has been serious progress on the Cyprus issue, Akinci said, however, there are still thorny issues at the negotiations. He stressed the importance of political determination and will and added that as of November they will enter an intensive negotiation process. Akinci further said: "Our hope is to reach a solution as soon as possible even though we have not referred to a specific date" and concluded by saying that they will continue to do the best they can to reach a Cyprus settlement and the conjuncture is available.

(DPs)

[02] Akinci met with the US Ambassador to Cyprus

(DPs)

[03] Colak met with representatives of French media and think-tank organizations

According to a press release by the "information office", Colak attended the round table meeting, which was organized by the French think-tank IPSE and moderated by the Chairman of the organization Emmanuel Dupuy in which ex-minister of Sarkozy government Senator Jean Marie Bockel also participated.

After the meeting, Colak met with Bockel, who is also a member of the French Foreign Affairs Committee and member of the French Permanent Delegation to NATO. During the meeting, Colak underlined that developing the relations of the Turkish Cypriots with France will make positive contributions to the solution process and argued that this is the most natural right of the Turkish Cypriots in order to express themselves.

Colak also met with the head of the 'Institut Francais des Relations Internationales' think tank organization's Turkey Program, Dorothee Schmid. The Cyprus issue, the expectation of the Turkish Cypriots and the perspective of Turkey to the Cyprus problem were evaluated at the meeting. Noting that there is no need to question the willingness of the Turkish Cypriots for a solution, Colak claimed that Turkey sincerely continues to support the solution.

(DPs)

[04] Talat says that the "common points" are continuously increasing

According to a written statement issued by CTP's press office, Talat addressed a conference in Brussels hosted by the United European Left Group at the European Parliament and organized by AKEL left-wing party's delegation.

Talat underlined the importance of the agreement reached on the property issue during the ongoing negotiating process, according to which the property problem will be solved by a committee based on some criteria that will be determined. "The progress to be obtained on this issue will, of course, be developed in parallel to the determination of the criteria", he said adding that except for the chapters of Governance and Power Sharing, Economy and the Relations with the EU, the convergences between the sides increased on the Property as well.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Samani: "A federal laws working group is established"

Explaining that the two sides were still working on the schedule for the negotiations, Samani said that the initial plan is for the two leaders to meet 6 times next month if their programs permitted.

She added that the various working groups and technical committees had also stepped up their work.

"A working group on federal laws has been established on both sides. The two sides of the working group will most likely come together on Monday next week and commence work. The main purpose of this working group as it can be understood from its name will be to prepare laws for the federal structure. The working group is made up of legal experts, mostly who are already working at the presidential palace but also laws from the Bar Association and several universities. Naturally the federal laws will have to be prepared in line with the EU aquis communitaire which is why a legal expert from the EU Coordination Office will also be taking part in the working group meetings", Samani added.

Samani reminded that in addition to the various working groups, there are currently 12 bi-communal technical committees who are focusing on confidence building measures.

Samani also explained the current situation on work to connect mobile networks on both sides of the divide.

"Work carried out with the mobile GSM operators is actually completed. However, there is a problem with the regulating authority. The authority has raised legal obstacles. We're currently working on various formulas and proposals to overcome these legal obstacles. This is why we experienced a serious disappointment on the issue. After all the technical work has been completed", she said.

Commenting on reports that there was a divergence in views between the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Ak?nc? and his negotiator Ozdil Nami, Samani said: "It's only natural that there might be differences in opinion from time to time but let everyone be assured that everything is being conducted under a certain discipline. There is no conflict of views or divergences between Mr. Ak?nc? and Mr. Nami at this point in time".

[06] "Huge project in the surrounding area of Panagra dam"

Evren noted that they are carrying out the project together with Turkey's Forestry General Directorate, in addition to the water supply project. He said that the project has four legs: the recreation spots, the nature protection area, the wild life area and the new afforestation area.

The recreation spots will cover an area of 220 hectares including walking footpaths, playing grounds for children, restaurants, wild life observation towers etc.

Evren said that they are considering of creating a nature protection area covering 70 hectares south of the dam.

He added that in the same area they will create a field which could be used by schools, universities and scientists to carry out scientific researches.

Evren said that the wild life area will be fenced and they are considering of especially bringing moufflons, an endemic animal of Cyprus.

Evren further noted that they are planning to plant 15.000 pine nut plants in the area between the dam and the village. The project will be completed by 2018.

(I/Ts.)

[07] The breakaway regime will implement a "general health insurance" project within six months

Izbul said that with the reforms they will save money in the health sector and this will be positively reflected in the salaries and the allowances of the employees.

Kalyoncu noted that with the new system the health sector will be working on a full day basis and thus more patients will be receiving service.

(I/Ts.)

[08] "DPO" announced that the "economy" of the occupation regime is expected to show a 3.5% growth annually

Employment which currently stands at 105 thousands is also expected to reach 114 thousands by the end of 2018, according to the program.

The 2016-2018 economic program also envisages lowering unemployment to 2.6%, raising tourism revenues from 679.4 million dollars to 788.5 million dollars and closing the current accounts deficit.

Inflation is predicted to remain around 4.5% during the duration of the program.

[09] Erdogan: "ISIL, PKK and Syria intelligence behind Ankara terrorist act"

"[The Ankara bombing] totally is a collective terrorist act, in which Daesh [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - ISIL], the PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party], the Mukhabarat [Syria's military intelligence] and the PYD [Democratic Union Party] in northern Syria each played a role," Erdogan claimed on October 22 at a gathering of the Confederation of Righteous Trade Unions (HAK-IS), a right-wing trade union.

Erdogan said that the Ankara bombing had shown how terrorist acts were committed collectively and slammed those who said ISIL was behind the deadly blasts, which sent shockwaves through the country after killing at least 102 civilians and wounding hundreds of others ahead of a peace rally in downtown Ankara on Oct. 10.

(?)

Erdogan's remarks came less than a week after one of the suicide bombers in the Ankara twin blasts was identified as Yunus Emre Alagoz, an ISIL militant, according to a written statement released by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which is heading the investigation into the deadly blasts.

(?)

[10] Davutoglu declares October 30 as administrative holiday to avoid possible voter absence

The top Election authority set Nov. 1 as the date for Turkey's early elections, with its head stating that it took "seasonal conditions" into consideration while making its decision.

When November 1 was selected as poll day, speculation mounted over the possible impact of an election on November 1, as there is an official holiday in the preceding days. It was thought that some civil servants may plan to extend their one-day official Republic Day holiday on October 29, negatively impacting voter turnout. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK/ AM)

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