Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-11-30

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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] Davutolgu: If the Cyprus problem is solved soon, Turkey's EU accession will stop being a dream and will become a reality

[02] Turkey-EU agree on refugee action plan; Statements by Davutoglu and Juncker

[03] Burcu: "Russia is not following the principle of equality

[04] Former Turkish Cypriot negotiators praised Akinci's behavior towards German and Russian FMs

[05] Akinci reiterated that the current Cyprus negotiation process is the last chance to solve the Cyprus problem

[06] Akinci supports the Turkish journalists Can Dundar and Erdem Gul

[07] "Turkish Cypriot mayor" in the occupied part of Nicosia carried out contacts in Brussels

[08] Colak asked for explanations by the US on the lifting of weapons' embargo

[09] CMP member Kucuk: All the missing persons are in Cyprus

[10] The "Cyprus International Cooperation and Investment Summit in the Way for Peace" was held in the occupied area of Cyprus

[11] Developments on tourism in the breakaway regime

[12] Diyarbak?r Bar Head killed in a gun attack; Statements by Erdogan

[13] Opposition party leaders condemned Elci's killing

[14] The International community condemned the killing of Elci

[15] Three more journalists to appear in court over insulting Erdogan

[16] Kilicdaroglu: "Arrest of journalists is a black spot in Turkish history"

[17] Turkey allows French jets to use Turkish airspace and Incirlik base for airstrikes against Daesh

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Davutolgu: If the Cyprus problem is solved soon, Turkey's EU accession will stop being a dream and will become a reality

Davutoglu made these statements during an EU Summit in Brussels where it was announced that Chapter 17 on economy will be opened on December 14 and visa-free travel for Turkish citizens is expected to be implemented in October 2016.

Davutoglu stated that the Cyprus negotiations are proceeding really well and added that in case the Cyprus problem is solved in the coming months, the EU-Turkish relations will also be improved dramatically. "If we can solve the Cyprus problem in a few months then Turkey's EU membership will not be a dream, it will be a reality", Davutoglu stated.

(CS)

[02] Turkey-EU agree on refugee action plan; Statements by Davutoglu and Juncker

Chapter 17 on economy will be opened on December 14 and visa-free travel for Turkish citizens is expected to be implemented in October 2016 if Ankara meets certain criteria specified in an agreed roadmap.

The European Union will also give 3 billion euro ($3.1 billion) in funding to meet the needs of more than 2 million Syrian refugees in the country.

"These 3 billion euro are not given to Turkey. [This amount] is given to Syrian refugees; the main philosophy is burden sharing," Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at a joint press conference with the European Council President Donald Tusk and the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker following a summit in Brussels on Sunday.

"I can guarantee that Turkey will be completing and fulfilling all the promises mentioned in the joint action plan," Davutoglu said.

"Our ultimate target is to prevent human smugglers, prevent all type of criminal activities against refugees and regularize this flow as much as possible," he added.

Davutoglu added that a summit would be held twice every year and that Turkey's accession process to the EU would be accelerated.

"This is a historic day and a historic meeting. A summit has been held with Turkey after 11 years", said Davutoglu. He added that a calendar for a visa liberalization had been put forth.

Donald Tusk, the European Council President and chairman of the summit said that the migration issue was the main reason of the summit.

"Our agreement sets out a clear plan for the timely re-establishment of order at our shared frontier", said Tusk, adding that they expected a major step towards changing the rules of the game when it came to stemming the migration flow coming to the EU via Turkey.

"We will also step up our assistance to Syrian refugees in Turkey through a new Refugee Facility of 3 billion euro," Tusk said.

"The EU is committed to provide an initial 3 billion euro of additional resources. The need for and nature of this funding will be reviewed in the light of the developing situation," read a part of the document released by the European Council on its website after the meeting for which the parties had agreed upon.

"The Cyprus settlement is an important step," Juncker said in his statement and added: "I am quite optimistic after having visited Cyprus; things are moving in the right direction."

(?)

[03] Burcu: "Russia is not following the principle of equality

So-called presidential spokesman Bar?s Burcu said in a written statement issued on Saturday that in response, the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Ak?nc? has refused to join Lavrov and the "Greek Cypriot leader", as the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades is called, for lunch at a venue in the buffer zone.

"The Russian Foreign Minister did not follow the principle of equality? that is, he was not going to meet Ak?nc? before the lunch like he is scheduled to do with Anastasiades", Burcu said. .

(?)

Burcu said that the Turkish Cypriot side was intensifying efforts to find a solution based on political equality and had increased diplomatic contacts and Russia had not shown "sensitivity" to this, unlike other foreign officials such as the British Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, the German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier, the President of the EU Council Donald Tusk and the President of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Junker, who had all visited Ak?nc? at the "presidential palace".

"We conveyed our sincere thanks to the Russian Foreign Ministry for the invitation and expressed our desire to attend. However, we also informed the Russian officials that Mr. Ak?nc? would be unable to attend unless Mr. Lavrov meets with him as he will with Mr. Anastasiades. We were informed on Thursday the 26th of November that Mr. Lavrov would not be crossing over to the TRNC to meet with Mr. Ak?nc?", Burcu said in the statement.

(?)

[04] Former Turkish Cypriot negotiators praised Akinci's behavior towards German and Russian FMs

Olgun and Ertug issued a common statement in which they praised Akinci's behavior noting that "it was based on principles". According to the statement, Akinci said that he aimed for a solution of the Cyprus problem which will safeguard the freedom, the safety and the political equality of the Turkish Cypriot "people". "His behavior was on line with this aim", Ertug and Olgun stated.

(CS)

[05] Akinci reiterated that the current Cyprus negotiation process is the last chance to solve the Cyprus problem

Ak?nc? reminded that both he and his Greek Cypriot "counterpart", as he called President Nicos Anastasiades are of the same generation and warned that their failure to settle the Cyprus problem could push younger generations to opt for the permanent division of the island.

Underlining the importance of using culture and art to build peace, Ak?nc? said: "We are working hard for a solution in Cyprus. We are hopeful. I'm not pessimistic about this issue. Of course we are cautiously optimistic. It's neither possible nor right to paint a bright picture of the current situation. There is much we need to overcome as there are problems dating back all the way to 1963. There are also other deep-seeded and entrenched issues".

Pointing out that both sides shared the common view that the current process is a last chance to settle the Cyprus problem, Ak?nc? said that the Turkish Foreign Minister was not the only one to express this view.

"The children and youth especially in the south are being raised very differently. Greek Cypriots above a certain age are closer to a solution. We can see this from a research conducted. The situation on our side is different. This is the exact point where we see the importance of education. This is why we have agreed to establish a technical committee on education to spread the culture of peace, the culture of a federation and multiculturalism", Ak?nc? added.

Also receiving the choir, so-called prime minister Omer Kalyoncu said that the "two peoples" on the island are not of an aggressive nature despite a violent history.

(?)

[06] Akinci supports the Turkish journalists Can Dundar and Erdem Gul

In his message, Akinci expressed his solidarity towards Dundar and Gul. He wrote: "It is essential to be human, to have the right to report on democracy, human rights, thoughts and the freedom of expression? Above all, I am a human being and I express my solidarity to Can Dundar and Erdem Gul and to all the journalists who were disposed in the name of the freedom?"

(DPs)

[07] "Turkish Cypriot mayor" in the occupied part of Nicosia carried out contacts in Brussels

According to information released by the "municipality" in the occupied part of Nicosia, Harmanci discussed the latest phase reached on the Cyprus problem, how international actors can contribute to the municipalities in the occupied part of Nicosia and at the government controlled part of Nicosia that have been affected the most by the division of the island and which subjects the "Nicosia Turkish municipality" will be able to request technical support on projects that are continuing with the EU and the Nicosia Municipality.

"A while back the European Regional Policy Commission Corina Cretu, who had come to the island, had received wide spread reaction because she did not treat the two mayors equally on the island as stated in the protocol. Now Ms Cretu met with the Turkish Municipal mayor Mehmet Harmanci at her office and was informed in detail about the LTB projects'", said the statement.

It also noted that the proposal regarding the joining of the two "municipality markets" and encouragement of joint projects between the two "peoples" was welcomed my Ms Cretu as a wonderful beginning and she expressed the belief that this will contribute to the development of the economy of the two "peoples".

Ms Cretu also said that if an agreement is reached on the island then the "North" (editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) will be able to easily benefit from the funds but added that if there is a delay in the solution process then a special grand project can be prepared for the "north" of the island.

The statement also noted that Harmanci also met with the President of the European Parliament Committee on Regional Development Iskra Mihaylova and informed her of the legitimacy of the "Turkish municipality" in the occupied part of Nicosia and the problems that are being experienced due to the unequal dispersing of grant funds to the two "municipalities".

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (30.11.15) reports that Harmanci, during his contacts in Brussels, met also with Normund Poppens, Deputy Director-General of the DG Regional and Urban Policy at the European Commission. They discussed the legal status of the "Turkish municipality" in the occupied part of Nicosia and whether it can benefit from the Structural Funds.

In a meeting with Cllr Gordon Keymer, President of the Conservative party to the Committee of the Regions, Harmanci explained to him the legal status of the "Turkish municipality" in the occupied part of Nicosia and stressed that they should have the right to take more grants from the budget. According to the paper, Keymer said that he wants to visit the occupied part of Nicosia during his visit to Cyprus in April, 2016 and he was invited also by the "Turkish municipality" during his visit.

Harmanci also met with Alfonso Alcolea Martinez and Klaus Hullmans, Administrators of the Committee of the Regions.

Harmanci had also a meeting with the Norwegian Ambassador to Brussels Ingrid Schulerud. He also had separate meetings with various Deputies of the European Parliament, i.e. Frank Engel, Alyn Smith, Victor Bostinaru and Ska Keller. During the meetings, Harmanci claimed that the "Turkish municipality" in the occupied part of Nicosia has the same rights to take equally grants, but there is unfair treatment in the implementation between the Nicosia municipality and the "Turkish municipality". He asked from the EP Deputies to convey his message to the European Commission that they should prepare a more equal budget. The EP Deputies responded positively to his request.

(DPs)

[08] Colak asked for explanations by the US on the lifting of weapons' embargo

"We demanded information from the US with the aim of clarifying the issue. We will inform the public following the necessary consultations" Colak said.

The amendment, co-sponsored allows the sale of US defensive weapons, under the condition that the Secretaries of Defense and State submit a report to Congress assessing the impact of the embargo on Cyprus' national security and counter-terrorism efforts.

The embargo, which dates back to 1992, bans the export of defensive weapons to the Republic of Cyprus.

[09] CMP member Kucuk: All the missing persons are in Cyprus

Replying to the claims that some missing persons were transferred to Turkey during the conflict, Kucuk said that "all the missing persons, who are included in the list of the missing persons, are in the island. According to our information, they all were seen and that they are in the island. Under no circumstance, there is any missing person outside of Cyprus."

Kucuk claimed that according to their databases all the missing persons are in the island, adding that they have not any data that some missing persons are in Turkey. She explained that from 2006 until now, from the 2001 total missing persons, the 1020 have been exhumed and the 614 were identified.

Referring to the excavations in military areas in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, Kucuk said that there are currently 30 suspected burial sites in the military areas in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. She explained that permission was given to them to start excavations. She added that they think they can excavate the 10 sites and within 3 years, they will be able to excavate all the remaining military areas.

(DPs)

[10] The "Cyprus International Cooperation and Investment Summit in the Way for Peace" was held in the occupied area of Cyprus

Addressing the "Cyprus International Cooperation and Investment Summit in the Way for Peace" held in the occupied area of Cyprus of Cyprus, Kalyoncu said that the "law" provides incentives to local and foreign investors and that they gave an "investment incentive document" to 448 investors who will invest 5 billion 862 million 570 thousand and 64 Turkish Liras and provide jobs to 31 thousand 856 persons.

The president of the European Business Club, Zbignew Roch said that after the solution in Cyprus there will be a need for investments and "good projects". He noted that they would evaluate these issues during the summit.

The rector of illegal American University of Keryneia ("GAU"), Asim Vehbi said that 13 "universities" exist in the occupied area of Cyprus in which 85 thousand students are being educated and noted that this is an important number taking into consideration the population of the occupied area of Cyprus. He further expressed the belief that the summit will bring new investments and cooperation in the field of education.

(I/Ts.)

[11] Developments on tourism in the breakaway regime

Yeni Duzen reports that the self-styled minister of tourism Faiz Sucuoglu stated that they are now searching for other tourism markets and will try to bring tourists from Lithuania, FYROM and Azerbaijan. He went on and added that some Russian tourist operators continue to prefer the "TRNC" and expressed the belief that in a few days the situation will get back to normal.

In addition, Havadis reports that the "ministry of tourism" is preparing a "reform package" which is aimed to be applied in 2016, according to which the bed capacity of the hotels in the breakaway regime will be increased from 19,800 to 27,000 and the tourism budget will increase to 165,855,000 Turkish Lira.

Finally, Kibris writes that Sucuoglu held meetings with Turkish investors as regards the development of occupied Vokolida area. The paper notes that despite the fact that the region appeared to have much potential in 2003, only two hotels out of the thirteen that were constructed were completed, the Kaya Artemis Hotel which was constructed in 2007 and the Noah Ark Hotel in 2011.

(CS)

[12] Diyarbak?r Bar Head killed in a gun attack; Statements by Erdogan

Interior Minister Efkan Ala said in a press meeting that attackers shot at security forces from a taxi after the press meeting, killing one policeman.

One policeman was heavily wounded in the attack, while Elci, who was at the scene, was killed during the clash, Ala said.

Cengiz Erdur, the wounded policeman, later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.

Four inspectors were appointed to shed light the incident, Ala said.

An initial forensic report said Elci was killed by a single bullet to the back of his neck fired from long range.

Commenting on Elci's assassination, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech during a visit to the northwestern province of Bal?kesir said the following: "This incident shows how righteous Turkey is in its determination in struggle against terrorism".

The Diyarbak?r Bar said in a tweet that it was an assassination.

Elci and accompanying lawyers has just finished issuing a press statement to condemn Special Forces teams for damaging the base of Diyarbak?r's famous Four-Legged Minaret when gun shots rang out.

"We don't want guns, clashes and operations in this historical area, which has been a cradle to many civilizations and a common ground for humanity. We say that wars, clashes, guns and operations should be kept out of this area," Elci said in his press statement, just minutes before being gunned down.

(?)

[13] Opposition party leaders condemned Elci's killing

"What matters is how we live, not how we were killed. We have seen a lot of grievances in our lands; we have seen blood and we have seen wars. Peace will of course come to our lands. Elci's last words are a flag of peace which we will claim," HDP co-leader Demirtas said on November 29, as he addressed a crowd gathered in Diyarbak?r to lay Elci, the President of the Diyarbak?r Bar Association, to rest.

"Tahir Elci said 'peace' until his last breath," Demirtas said. "What killed Tahir was not the state, but statelessness. In Ankara, there is a governance and mentality which doesn't feel this grievance in their hearts. How can we keep together a society which cannot even unite in grief? Because we know there are tens of millions who say 'It serves him right' for our 'peace envoy' president. Tahir's legacy is weighty but our people will not forget their historical responsibility while carrying this weighty burden," he said.

In a written statement released on November 28, the HDP called the killing of Elci (whose surname means "envoy" in Turkish) a "planned assassination" and urged people to protest. "We doubt that this political murder will be fully clarified. We have reasonable doubt since numerous grievances have been experienced in our lands. We couldn't lay them to rest with relief, believing that the perpetrators would be captured because this state has never been the state of all of us. Everybody used the state as if it was their own property," Demirtas said.

Also, releasing a written statement late on November 28, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu recalled that Elci was shot while he and other activists were giving a press statement calling for an end to violence and protesting the destruction of a historic mosque in Diyarbak?r's Sur district during clashes between security forces and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants.

"In his last remarks, he was shouting: "We don't want armed conflict or operations in this ancient region which has served as the cradle for a lot of civilizations, in this joint home of humanity.' Those who took him from among us targeted our common values, which Tahir Elci also pointed out," K?l?cdaroglu said.

(?)

Speaking to reporters on the same day, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said the killing of Elci "saddened the entire [Turkish] society."

"There is use in the government's multidimensional investigation and finding murderers, if the attack was planned to escalate tension in an already very tense environment in Turkey," Bahceli said. "Failure is not possible if something does not exist anyway. There is no security in the southeast," he replied, when asked whether he was convinced that there had been "a security failure."

[14] The International community condemned the killing of Elci

Federica Mogherini, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, defined the killing as horrific and asked Turkey to resume the Kurdish settlement process, in a press conference held on Sunday.

In her speech, Mogherini said: "Revising the Kurdish settlement process has turned into a vital issue for Turkey, the region [the Middle East] and the European Union".

Also, the British Ambassador to Turkey, Richard Moore tweeted shortly after the killing of Elci: "I got shocked and depressed by the murder of my friend Tahir Elci. A good and brave man cut down. A human rights defender over many decades".

The US Embassy also expressed shock over Elci's death, calling him a "courageous defender of human rights."

"Our condolences go to his family, that of the policeman killed and to all of Turkey. A terrible loss," the Embassy posted on Twitter.

[15] Three more journalists to appear in court over insulting Erdogan

Managing Editor Berkant Gultekin, Responsible Manager Can Ugur and journalist Bar?s Ince will stand trial at the Istanbul Courthouse in Caglayan due to a news report published by the daily in February.

(?)The three journalists are facing a jail sentence of one to four years.

(?)

[16] Kilicdaroglu: "Arrest of journalists is a black spot in Turkish history"

In statements on November 29 upon his visit to the office building of daily Cumhuriyet in Istanbul, Kilicdaroglu expressed support to the two journalists arrested.

Kil?cdaroglu's supportive visit came as Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Can Dundar and Ankara Bureau Chief Erdem Gul were arrested over the daily's coverage of a story on Syria-bound trucks full of weapons, which were purportedly owned by the Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT).

[17] Turkey allows French jets to use Turkish airspace and Incirlik base for airstrikes against Daesh

Turkey also agreed to allow the French military to use the Incirlik airbase in emergency cases.

According to the agreement, French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will also be able to receive logistic support from the Tasucu harbor located in Turkey's southeastern Mersin province. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK/ AM)

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