Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-02-24

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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] Akinci briefs Siber, Kalyoncu and Sahali on the Cyprus problem; Siber says that the process entered now into the essential and difficult issues

[02] Colak is holding contacts in Germany

[03] Crucial day for the CTP-UBP "coalition government"; CTP will ask for extra time; It is reported that Turkey does not want a political crisis

[04] Kucuk stated that they have new information about missing persons in the occupied village of Assia

[05] Cerkez accused the Greek Cypriot side of delaying the process regarding the network communications connection

[06] The "mayor" of occupied Agios Amvrosios explains the developments in the village

[07] Around 30 families from Turkey live in shanties in the occupied area of Morfou

[08] A drop of halloumi exports to Turkey and the Gulf countries

[09] Serbia and Kazakhstan participated in the "1st international bicycle tour" with their national bicycle teams

[10] "KAU" participated in the "Dawn Education Expo 2016 Fair"

[11] DNA report suggests Ankara bomber was Turkish citizen

[12] Davutoglu: No doubt YPG-PKK behind Ankara bombing

[13] Turkey's MHP vows support for Ankara's "legitimate defence against terror"

[14] Kilicdaroglu: Government's foreign policy discrediting Turkey

[15] Demirtas: AKP is an "extension of ISIL"

[16] Erdogan: "Syria exporter of terrorism"

[17] Survey: Turkish nation happier and more hopeful for the future

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci briefs Siber, Kalyoncu and Sahali on the Cyprus problem; Siber says that the process entered now into the essential and difficult issues

In statements after the briefing, Siber said that Akinci informed them on the latest developments in the negotiations, adding that the process is being carried out with good will. Arguing that the pre-election campaign started in the government-controlled area of the island, Siber said that the aim and the target are for a solution to be reached. Siber noted that since the last evaluation they had there is no concrete progress in the negotiations, but now we are in "a substantial and difficult process". She said that the belief of the Turkish Cypriots in the solution continues to exist.

Moreover, Kalyoncu said that they exchanged views as regards the negotiations and added that they received the minutes of the negotiations, but these face to face meetings are also important.

Finally, Sahali said that they discussed both the negotiations and the preparations for the solution, but at the same time how the "government" should proceed within the framework of the solution. He also expressed the belief that the negotiations will continue without being influenced by the elections in the government-controlled area of the island.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Colak is holding contacts in Germany

Within the framework of her contacts, Colak met with the German EU Minister Michael Roth at the Parliament. According to a statement issued by her office, Colak briefed her interlocutor on the latest developments in the Cyprus talks, noting that "they have come to the difficult issues in the negotiating process, but in spite of this they hope that the sides will achieve a comprehensive progress by May on the issues of governance, the EU, economy and property". She claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side allegedly wishes to focus on the other issues after the elections in the government-controlled area of the island and reach a solution by the end of 2016 and is exerting a great effort.

During her contacts at the Parliament, Colak met with representatives of the German government and opposition parties. Within this framework, she met with the Vice President of the Federal Parliament's EU Commission and SPD Deputy, Achim Barchmann. During the meeting emphasis was given to the importance of Germany's support to the solution process and its political and technical support within the EU after the solution.

Colak also met at the Parliament with the SPD Deputy and member of the Federal Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Dietmar Nietan. She briefed him on the negotiating process and underlined the importance of the German Parliament's and Germany's support to the process.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Crucial day for the CTP-UBP "coalition government"; CTP will ask for extra time; It is reported that Turkey does not want a political crisis

UBP's chairman, Huseyin Ozgurgun told Kibris that "we have said what we had to say on Friday" and that the self-styled prime minister's duty is to end this crisis. "We gave tomorrow [today] as a date and we are waiting", he said adding: "There is nothing to say. We are curious to see how the prime minister Mr Omer Kalyoncu will end this crisis".

A source from the CTP told Kibris that they will ask from the UBP for extra time until Monday, because "we are looking for a consensus on some changes to be made in the agreement as regards the water".

Meanwhile, today or in the end of this extra period of time asked from the UBP it will be found out whether the meeting held last week between CTP's Chairman Mehmet Ali Talat and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey will influence the future of the CTP-UBP "coalition government".

A source close to the self-styled government told Kibris the following: "The government will not collapse. CTP will ask for extra time replying to UBP's demand and I think that this extra time will be accepted. Furthermore, on Wednesday, transportation minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu will also visit Ankara. The problem will be overcome".

A source close to the UBP said that the "government" ended and that they have started discussions with the Democratic Party (DP).

Kibris recalls that according to information published on Sunday, Turkey does not want a crisis on the water issue or in the Cyprus negotiations.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (24.02.16) reports that the problems regarding the signing of the agreement of the administration and operation of the water disrupted the "economic protocol" to be signed with Turkey for the period 2016-18. Under the title "The February wages in two installments", the paper writes that the self-styled government could not start talks with Turkey on the "protocol" and therefore it cannot pay the wages of February 2016 "in one piece". Turkey has not paid its contribution to the "budget" of the regime for the period January-February 2016 as it is provided for in the "budget".

According to Havadis, Kalyoncu asked to meet with the Turkish Prime Minister, but Ahmet Davutoglu has not yet replied to Kalyoncu's request. On the other hand, the UBP is reportedly annoyed by Talat's visit to Ankara last week and by his meeting with Erdogan, as it perceived this move as "ignoring the government".

Havadis asked Birikim Ozgur, self-styled minister of finance, regarding the wages, but Ozgur preferred not to reply to the paper's questions. He said that Kalyoncu is informed about the regime's financial situation and incomes and added that "Mr prime minister will make the necessary announcement to the public on this issue".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Kucuk stated that they have new information about missing persons in the occupied village of Assia

Kucuk said that they will evaluate the information and added that after they confirm that this is accurate, they will carry out excavations in the area.

He, however, pointed out that they have received similar information in the past but there weren't reliable. He added that only 20-25% of the information the committee receives are accurate.

(AK)

[05] Cerkez accused the Greek Cypriot side of delaying the process regarding the network communications connection

Cerkez denied the allegations saying that the works between the "officials" of both sides in the island for the connection of the network communication were not fruitful due to Turkey's negative reply on this matter and argued that Turkey has nothing to do with this matter.

Supporting that although both sides seem to have goodwill to solve the issue of the network communications connection, Cerkez said that due to the parliamentary elections which are to take place in "south Cyprus", as he described the Republic of Cyprus, their Greek Cypriot interlocutors cannot give answers on when they will make the necessary amendments on their laws.

Cerkez, however, accused the Greek Cypriots for delaying tactics and said that he considers that the main reason that the Greek Cypriots delay the process is because they want to cooperate with Turkish firms and not with firms which are registered in the "north".

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side has made already all the necessary steps towards the communications network connection, Cerkez argued that unfortunately the Greek Cypriot side has not exerted the necessary efforts and thus the process has been suspended.

(AK)

[06] The "mayor" of occupied Agios Amvrosios explains the developments in the village

Erdogan said that since he came to power, the "municipality" started to contribute to the infrastructure of the area especially in the fields of sports and arts. He noted that many undergoing projects funded by "Turkey's financial aid committee", have come to a halt due to the crisis, adding that it is really important to solve the crisis on the water issue. He added that they should accept Turkey's proposal on the water issue.

Erdogan further said that he will travel to FYROM with the hunters on March 5 and meet with other mayors of the region.

Noting that this year they plan to continue the development of the beach at the occupied village Agios Amvrosios along with the nature trails, Erdogan explained that they will take also funds from the EU for these projects. He added however that their main investment financier for their projects is the illegal Turkish embassy in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

(DPs)

[07] Around 30 families from Turkey live in shanties in the occupied area of Morfou

According to the paper, these families live in very unhealthy and bad conditions without bread and food while their children do not attend school.

(AK)

[08] A drop of halloumi exports to Turkey and the Gulf countries

Cirali said that although the "state" (editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) subsidizes the exports of halloumi/hellim, the producers do not want to buy milk, because their products are not competitive abroad.

(DPs)

[09] Serbia and Kazakhstan participated in the "1st international bicycle tour" with their national bicycle teams

Noting that the tour helped both towards the recognition of the "TRNC" and the increase of bicycle tourism, the paper writes that two out of the seven countries participated in the tour with their national bicycle teams. These were Serbia and Kazakhstan, according to Kibris.

(CS)

[10] "KAU" participated in the "Dawn Education Expo 2016 Fair"

(DPs)

[11] DNA report suggests Ankara bomber was Turkish citizen

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu blamed a Syrian Kurdish YPG militia fighter working with Kurdish militants inside Turkey for the attack, naming him as Salih Necar, born in 1992, from the Hasakah region of northern Syria.

But the DNA report suggested the attack was carried out by Abdulbaki Somer, born in the eastern Turkish city of Van, said the security official and the state-run Anadolu news agency, which cited prosecution sources.

That matches the name given by the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), a Kurdish militant group, when it claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on its website on Friday.

"The DNA report has been published. We saw that it was not Necar," a Turkish security official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity because the results of the investigation have not yet been made public. "The bomber's DNA matches that of Abdulbaki's father. It looks like the bomber was Abdulbaki Somer, that's what the report is saying," the official said.

[12] Davutoglu: No doubt YPG-PKK behind Ankara bombing

Speaking to his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputies on Feb. 23, Davutoglu stressed that his conviction was supported by "loud and clear evidence."

Davutoglu stated that TAK's claim of responsibility for the Ankara bombing was a diversionary tactic, and that the various militant groups were all part of the same "terrorist structure". "As a result of rapid work by our security units, it has been clearly understood that this attack was planned and carried out through a cooperation between the YPG and the PKK," Davutoglu said.

"The claim of responsibility by TAK, a PKK offshoot, aims to divert attention from the YPG. Whether it's KCK, YPG, PKK, TAK or PJAK, they are all part of the same terrorist structure," he said, referring to a series of Kurdish militant groups. "Their owners and puppeteers are known to us."

[13] Turkey's MHP vows support for Ankara's "legitimate defence against terror"

"I'm calling on [Prime Minister Ahmet] Davutoglu ? Whoever threatens Turkey's national security, whoever grows an enmity against the Turkish nation, and whoever fires a bullet against our people, should be sought, found and immediately punished," Bahceli said on Feb. 23, in his first public remarks since a Feb. 17 car bomb attack that killed 28 people in the capital Ankara.

"Mr. Davutoglu, if necessary, cross to the Kandil [mountains in northern Iraq]. If necessary burn that place and level it to the ground. If needed, hit the north of Syria like a thunderbolt," Bahceli said, addressing his party's parliamentary group.

"By not heeding the U.S., which said 'Stop firing artillery at the YPG' and which allied with the PYD, and by not heeding Russia's provocations, Turkey shows its power to both friends and enemies. For our legitimate defence, clean out everywhere the PKK/PYD is present and rid this precious nation of the sickness of terrorism," MHP head Bahceli also said.

[14] Kilicdaroglu: Government's foreign policy discrediting Turkey

"We used to be the most prestigious country [in the region]," he said, while addressing party deputies in parliament on Feb. 23. "Now we have turned into a tribal state."

Turkey should change its foreign policy completely, the main opposition leader argued.

"Statesmen are those who defend the benefits of their countries. Those who have made Turkey a part of the Middle East swamp cannot be statesmen. Those who support such a thing cannot either. Why are we involved in the domestic business of Syria?" he asked. He also questioned the government's potential to do the right things in the region.

[15] Demirtas: AKP is an "extension of ISIL

"What kind of an enmity against Kurds is this that they [the AKP] await a bombing in some part of the country just to accuse the PYD?" he asked during his address to the party Deputies on Feb. 23.

"Did the PYD threw a single stone at you from [Syria]? I am not talking about bullets but stones," he said.

"And then, they are calling us [the HDP] the terror extensions, etc. Is there any better terror extension than you [the AKP]? You are the extension of ISIL. And this is your hypocrisy. Our party keeps calling for peace as yours is doing all this and you expect us to remain silent. The AKP is a political extension of ISIL," he said.

[16] Erdogan: "Syria exporter of terrorism"

He made these statements in a speech at the Turkey-Somalia Business Forum in Istanbul on Feb. 23.

"As Turkey, we have been struggling with a separatist terror organization for 30 years. In our view there is no difference between terrorist organizations. We do not discriminate between al-Shabab, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [ISIL] and al-Nusra, or between the Kurdistan Workers' Party [PKK], the Democratic Union Party [PYD] and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units [YPG]," he added. Referring to Turkey's support for Somalia, the Turkish President said Ankara would "never let it down."

"Restructuring the state with all its institutions is a long and hard road full of barriers. We should support Somalia on this rocky road," he said. "Somalia became a symbol for Turkey's perspective on the African continent and our wish to establish brotherhood with other African countries," Erdogan said.

[17] Survey: Turkish nation happier and more hopeful for the future

The results from the TurkStat Life Satisfaction Survey for 2015 found the percentage of participants who said they are happy increased to 56.6% from 56.3 % in 2015 and people who said they are unhappy decreased to 11.4% from 11.7%.

Happiness is a relative concept, as the findings of the survey reveal. The survey results show that women are less happy than men, with the percentage of happy women falling to 60.2% from 60.4% in 2014, while men who said they are happy increased 0.9 %. Although TurkStat did not give any reason for the drop in women's happiness, it can be attributed to a number of factors affecting women's wellbeing in the country that the Turkish government attempts to improve such as gender inequality, especially in employment, and fears of violence toward women. The employment rate for women in the country is about 30% and women often face a glass ceiling in employment in high-paying jobs.

According to the survey results, youth are happier than senior citizens. The highest level of happiness was for the 18 to 24 age group at 63.8 %, while it remained at 51.7 % for participants between the ages of 45 and 54, the lowest for any age group.

Marriage was also a means for happiness for Turks, apparently, as the rate of happiness of married participants was more than 10 % higher than for unmarried participants. The survey also found that hope for the future had a slight increase from 73.8 % in 2014 to 74.4 % last year. As for overall happiness, men expressed more hope about the future than women. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

(CS/AM)

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