Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-12-30

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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] Akinci: If there are no Turkey's guarantees, the Turkish Cypriots will vote "no" in the referendum

[02] Atun: All CTP, DP and UBP signed a "protocol" with Turkey for implementing the BOT model in the water administration

[03] Tacoy called on the "government" to resign

[04] Ozersay is establishing a party in January

[05] Erdogan: "HDP's call for autonomy is 'treason'"

[06] Yuksekdag: "We want autonomy not only for Kurds"

[07] Kilicdaroglu: "Turkey is going through one of its most major crises in history"

[08] Erdogan held contacts in Saudi Arabia; Turkey and Saudi Arabia agree to boost economic, military, energy ties

[09] Data on Turkey's tourism shows serious decline on arrivals from Russia and Europe

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: If there are no Turkey's guarantees, the Turkish Cypriots will vote "no" in the referendum

This should happen "after the picture on the other issues has almost come to light", he argued and added: "We see that the continuation of Turkey's guarantees is necessary. This is our position. I have to give people what they want".

Noting that the Greek Cypriots see Turkey's guarantees as a threat, Akinci pointed out that a formula should be found so that the Greek Cypriots will not see this as a threat.

Asked whether there was an agreement on the property issue, Akinci replied that as on every other chapter, progress has been achieved on the property as well. He noted: "The property is an issue on which people are very sensitive. Political equality, governance and power sharing are also important for us. Progress has been achieved on these as well. Three of the six chapters are the Economy, the EU, and Governance and Power Sharing and the other three are the Property, the Territory and the Guarantees. We have touched upon every one of them, but on the territory, for example, the map, the percentages and names of villages were not discussed. Therefore, we cannot say that it has really been discussed".

Noting that 22 chapters have been agreed regarding the categorization of the affected properties, Akinci said that the criteria are still being discussed and added:

"Not everything has ended in full sense. If an agreement is reached on the criteria in the property, the possibility of the other issues passing more easily will increase. [?]"

Referring to the rotating presidency, Akinci said that no agreement is reached on this issue and added that this is important for the Turkish Cypriots because "it is one of the important indicators for our political equality".

Touching upon the return of the refugees to their homes, Akinci said that their target is for the least possible people to be displaced and noted: "I want to convey the following message to the people: We have some targets on the property issue. One of them is for the least possible of our people to be displaced, because one principle is that returning to the pre-1974 period is not possible, as this is not in harmony with the conditions of life. Life is showing us the future, that is, many different lives have been built within 41 years both in the north and in the south. Therefore, if some people are exhibiting the understanding that we will massively bring the people living here 41 years ago, this will not happen, because not all of these people are still alive and we have to look at the future, as their children built a new life".

Arguing that the criteria on the property issue should be clear, Akinci said:

"There could be no condition such as that someone will be displaced without having any alternative and an appropriate choice. In any case, we are proposing for such situations to be experienced in a very limited number in the north. [?] The following understanding comes onto the agenda in the Greek Cypriot side: The first owner of the property, that is, the pre-74 owner of the title deed will have the first say and the negotiating team has accepted this. This is a misunderstanding. The first holder of the title deed will have the right to file application first. And when, within one year, he will say that this property belongs to me, I want compensation or I want exchange or I want to live in it, the situation of the people living in it will be examined. Demopoulos case gave to us this right at the ECHR. He will have the right to apply, but the person living in [the property] will also have a right. No agreement has been reached yet on these issues, they are being discussed".

Akinci said that there could be exchange of properties, but there will not be so many returns [of property]. He added:

"If less people come, it means that more compensation will be paid. Because we have established this, financing is being searched in the international arena with the help of Mr Espen Barth Eide during this period when the international interest is intensive. The foreigners, who paid a visit here, gave positive messages [?]"

Akinci noted that different criteria will be discussed for the issue of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha.

Asked whether President Anastasiades shares the same views with him on the property issue, Akinci replied: "If Anastasiades said yes to everything, we would have finished the chapter of the property. We are discussing the criteria. Both we and they are preserving our positions, but there has been rhetoric lasted for years, which has slowly slowly started remaining to the past".

Expressing the belief that the issue of the rotating presidency will be overcome and that progress will be made on the property issue, Akinci claimed that bi-zonality is one of the UN parameters, according to which the Turkish Cypriots should have the majority of properties and population in the "north" and the Greek Cypriots in the "south".

Referring to the energy issue, Akinci reiterated that the natural gas could become a project by which both sides will gain, instead of being turned into an issue of tension.

Replying to a question, Akinci expressed the belief that the "cross voting" will be beneficial from the point of view of bringing the two communities closer to each other.

Referring to the reactions against the rotating presidency within the Greek Cypriot community, Akinci argued that this principle was included in the Annan Plan and the Turkish Cypriots want it.

Replying to a question on the issue of the population, Akinci alleged that it is not possible for the population of the two communities to become equal and added: "There is no ratio such as four to one [?] We have asked the number of the citizens from the ministry of interior. We saw that the ratio is close to four to one. What the Greek Cypriot side wants to do is for this ratio not to be spoiled by granting citizenship to people coming from Turkey and Greece. In any case, we have no such intention [?]"

Akinci argued that an agreement has been reached on the issue of all existing "citizens" to become "citizens" of united Cyprus and that there is no list like in the Annan Plan.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Atun: All CTP, DP and UBP signed a "protocol" with Turkey for implementing the BOT model in the water administration

In statements to a television program, Atun noted that the "governments" of the breakaway regime have committed to Turkey that the distribution of the water will be conducted through the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. He said that the then "prime minister" and leader of the National Unity Party (UBP), Irsen Kucuk had signed a "protocol" on the issue with the then Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Talip Atalay and that this "protocol" was signed afterwards by the CTP-DP "coalition government".

Recalling that the Turkish Cypriots say that "they should finally grow up", Atun wondered whether there is a grown up person who does not keep his promises.

He expressed the view that there is no serious difference in the opinion of the two "coalition partners" (the CTP and the UBP) and that there is no problem on the issue of the distribution of the water by private companies.

Recalling that BESKI Company established by the "municipalities" also demands the administration of the water, Atun said that the 'municipalities' will focus on the rest of the main services and only on the issue of hiring people and the salaries.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Tacoy called on the "government" to resign

Tacoy stated that both the actions and non-actions of the "government" in various issues did not solve any problems faced by the "citizens" and added that the "government" must resign opening the door to new opportunities and other political parties. He also stated that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the National Unity Party (UBP) which are part of the "coalition government" cannot agree on anything and this is very obvious because the economic protocol with Turley is not signed yet and because there is a big crisis regarding the administration of the water project.

Tacoy also accused CTP of not honoring its signature as regards the agreement signed a few years ago regarding the administration of the water project with Turkey.

(CS)

[04] Ozersay is establishing a party in January

"We will announce the formation of the new party, our vision and our proposals for solving various problems in the first days of 2016" Ozersay stated.

According to the paper, Ozersay has been visiting various villages in the occupied area of Cyprus since July where he announced his intentions of forming a party, aiming to get support.

(CS)

[05] Erdogan: "HDP's call for autonomy is 'treason'"

Speaking in a press conference at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on December 29 ahead of a flight to Saudi Arabia, Erdogan said: "What this co-chair did is clearly total provocation and treason. The co-chair in question made delusional statements after his visit to Russia last weekend," he added.

Erdogan slammed Demirtas' statements in which he said: "From now on, Kurds will be the political will in their own region... Perhaps, Kurds will have their own independent state, the federal state, and cantons and autonomous regions as well."

Recalling the Constitution's 14th article, Erdogan questioned the HDP's attempt to make statements on founding a state in Turkey's east and south-east "within Turkey's existing unitary structure."

"The 14th article of our Constitution is against these sorts of attempts. This is the time when the masks have been taken off and the real faces exposed. How dare you talk about establishing a state in the southeast and in the east within Turkey's existing unitary structure," Erdogan said, addressing Demirtas.

"You cannot take such a step. The national will, our security forces, the armed forces, the police and village guards will not allow such a thing," he added.

The 14th article states that "none of the rights and freedoms embodied in the Constitution shall be exercised in the form of activities aiming to violate the indivisible integrity of the state with its territory and nation", said Erdogan.

(?)

Erdogan further recalled the HDP promised to be a political party of Turkey ahead of the June 7 parliamentary election, saying "they have never believed in the power of Parliament."

"It was revealed before the June election that [the HDP] is not a party of Turkey," Erdogan said.

Making remarks on the possible forging of a new Constitution, Erdogan said that a new Constitution based on societal reconciliation was expected.

"There is an expectation of a new Constitution based on societal reconciliation. Almost all political parties promised to make contributions to this end at rallies [in the run-up to the November election]," Erdogan said.

He also noted that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu would meet main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) head Kemal K?l?cdaroglu and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahceli in a series of meetings starting on December 30 in preparation for the forging of a new Constitution.

Davutoglu, however, ostracized the HDP, the third largest party in parliament, refusing to meet it because it "supports violence."

[06] Yuksekdag: "We want autonomy not only for Kurds"

Speaking at a parliamentary group meeting on December 29, Yuksedag defended self-governance for the entire country, not only for southeastern Anatolia and recalled that the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation on Dec. 28 over remarks by the HDP's other co-chair, Selahattin Demirtas, on autonomy.

"No investigation is opened when the President speaks yet our co-chairs and party fellows face investigations for defending autonomy," Yuksekdag said.

"Autonomy is a right. Not only for Cizre, Silopi and Nusaybin, but it is also a right for Istanbul, Rize, Mersin and Ankara too. We will go on defending this demand," she added.

"This resistance will end with victory, and everybody will respect the people's will. Kurds will, from now on, be the political will in their own region. During these days when a historical breaking point is emerging, our people will decide whether [to live in] a dictatorship or freedom and whether to live under one man's tyranny or in autonomy," Demirtas said in a speech delivered at the opening of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) conference held in southeastern Diyarbak?r over the weekend.

The DTK is a multi-party-based group that brings together a number of Kurdish groups and democratic organizations.

"There is a need to highlight peace and resolution more and more", Yuksedag said. "We have not put forth this text as an unchangeable and static text," she said, referring to a declaration embraced at the DTK conference which favored autonomy.

"It is a dynamic text which is open to all kinds of contributions and changes. Come, let's hold a dynamic discussion. The text which was released by the DTK and to which we agreed is the foundation of the unification of the peoples of Turkey in the 21st century," she added.

[07] Kilicdaroglu: "Turkey is going through one of its most major crises in history"

Addressing the last weekly parliamentary group meeting of his party in 2015, Kilicdaroglu dubbed 2015 "very significant" in regards to Turkey's political history and said: "General elections were held consecutively [in 2015]. Between the two elections, almost 400 of our citizens were victimized by terror. While Turkey didn't have any fundamental problem earlier, five fundamental problem areas have emerged in 2015", he said, listing these areas as "terror, economy, education, societal peace and law."

(?) "Societal peace has been undermined, law has been slaughtered and justice is over. A political power which has been ruling the country for 13 years brought the country to this point", K?l?cdaroglu said referring to the ruling AKP.

"At the moment, the Republic of Turkey is experiencing one of its most major crises. We have entered into this process," he said.

Arguing that justice was not prevailing in Turkey, Kilicdaroglu claimed that nobody has security of life and property. "Journalists are imprisoned just because they did accurate reporting; 32 journalists have been jailed, could such a democracy, such law exist? Which rule of law? There is rule of sovereigns, but not of law," he said.

[08] Erdogan held contacts in Saudi Arabia; Turkey and Saudi Arabia agree to boost economic, military, energy ties

President Erdogan and King Salman also discussed economy, trade, and energy-related issues, in addition to the recent events in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, while agreeing on the strengthening of bilateral relations and highlighting the overlap in both countries' opinions on regional issues, including anti-terrorism policies.

The two leaders underscored that a solution for the Syrian conflict cannot include Bashar al-Assad.

After the meetings held at Al Yamamah Palace among the delegations, President Erdogan also had meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Crown Attorney Mohammed bin Salman.

Presidential sources said that during the meetings, the two leaders emphasized the importance of coordination between the two countries in dealing with regional issues during critical times, also highlighting the friendly and strategic partnership between the two states.

The sources said that in this context, Turkey and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement on the establishment of a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. The Council will deal with security, military, economy, trade, energy and investment between the two countries.

(?)

[09] Data on Turkey's tourism shows serious decline on arrivals from Russia and Europe

A total of 34.8 million foreign people visited the country in the first eleven months of 2015, according to data.

The decline in the number of European (with the exception of German) and Russian tourists was mainly due to economic problems in the Russian market and escalating security concerns in Turkey, according to sector representatives.

The number of Russian arrivals decreased by 18% to 3.6 million in the first eleven months of the year.

Turkey also saw around 26% of decline in the number of arrivals from Italy, 18.5% of decline in arrivals from France and around 15% of decline in arrivals from Spain in the first eleven months of the year compared to the same period of 2014. The number of arrivals from Japan also decreased by more than 37%, with only 100,000 Japanese visiting in the January-November period of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, according to data.

The number of visitors from the Gulf countries and Iraq increased by an average of 30% in the first eleven months of the year compared to the same period of 2014.

Germany became the largest source of foreign arrivals to Turkey in the first eleven months of the year, with around 15.5%, followed by the Russian Federation with around 10.4% and Britain with around 7%, according to data.

While Germany remained to be top source of visitors, with around 15% share in the total number of foreign arrivals into Turkey in November, Georgia and Bulgaria climbed reaching second and third with 9% and 7.5%, respectively.

Turkish tourism sector players expecting a continued decline in the number of Russian tourists visiting Turkey in 2016 unless the current diplomatic crisis between the two countries is resolved, will launch a promotional campaign in Europe under the leadership of the Tourism Ministry to overcome the potential losses, according to leading sector representatives. The sector also plans to focus on the China and India markets in the medium-term. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK / AM)

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