In a statement issued on 22 November by Ambassador Huseyin Mufutoglu, spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Minister, it was said that during Cavusoglu's visit "a detailed evaluation with the Turkish Cypriot side will be made on the point we have come".

Cavusoglu is expected to depart from the occupied area of the island on the same day.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Akinci held telephone conversations with Biden and Ban

According to a statement issue by the "presidential palace", Akinci discussed with Biden the latest developments in Mont Pelerin and conveyed the Turkish Cypriot stance. He also reiterated the Turkish Cypriot side's decisiveness towards the solution and its political will towards this direction.

Meanwhile, during the telephone conversation with Ban, Akinci briefed the Secretary-General about the developments in Mont Pelerin, he explained the "positive steps" undertaken by the Turkish Cypriot side and its constructive stance and reiterated that their goal is to reach a solution within 2016. Ban reiterated in his turn, his support on the Cyprus negotiation process.

(AK)

[03] Ozgurgun evaluated Mont Pelerin talks

Speaking on "BRT 1" yesterday, Ozgurgun repeated his view that a representative from the "government" should be on the Turkish Cypriot negotiating team and added: "We were able to follow the results of the talks from the press. We shall learn about what really happened there when we meet with the president (Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci) later on. But the facts are clear. That is that there was no agreement reached and the goal of reaching a solution before the end of 2016 is now in danger".

Claiming that this was not the first time the Greek Cypriot side adopted an intransigent attitude at the negotiating table, Ozgurgun questioned as to how much more is the Turkish Cypriot side going to tolerate this attitude.

Arguing that Akinci had been too flexible in the steps he had taken forward, Ozgurgun alleged: "For us, his steps were too flexible. However we chose to remain silent with the hope that an agreement could be reached. However as it can be seen, the outcome was once again inconclusive because of the Greek Cypriot side's greedy stance".

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot "people" will never accept living as a minority, Ozgurgun argued that the events of 1963 and 1974 as well as the recent developments in the region clearly proved the importance of the guarantees for the Turkish Cypriot "people".

Alleging that the Turkish Cypriot side has never run away from a solution, Ozgurgun complained that the Mont Pelerin talks was the latest of a long line of negotiations that ended with failure because of the Greek Cypriot side's intransigence.

"How much longer will the Turkish Cypriot side wait for the Greek Cypriots at the negotiating table? We could resume the talks in a manner which makes the Greek Cypriot side comfortable but to what end? This has to be questioned. The Greek Cypriot side should clearly understand that the Turkish Cypriot people are just as educated as the Greek Cypriot people and have earned a strong mature sense of democracy. It will not be possible to reach a solution unless you come to terms with this reality", Ozgurgun claimed.

[04] TDP calls the two leaders to move forward and determine a new road map

TDP underlined in the statement that the outcome of the summit in Mont Pelerin did not meet their expectations. The statement added, however, that this situation should not be perceived as the end of the process. "It would be a great mistake to expect for a 50 years prolonged problem to be solved in one night", adds the statement.

The statement also emphasizes that the two leaders achieved a remarkable progress in the talks and suggests that at the current stage, what is necessary to be done, is not the leaders to enter into the game of accusations but to move forward in the framework of a new road map that will be mutually determined.

(AK)

[05] Toros says that the depreciation of the Turkish lira causes crisis in all sectors of the economy in the occupied area of Cyprus

The Turkish capital holders' and households' purchasing power decreased due to the depreciation of the TL, he said adding that this directly influenced the occupied area of Cyprus which is "an importer country". The prices of a great part of the Turkish goods that are exported are indexed to foreign currency and therefore the TL's depreciation resulted in an increase of the cost of the imports, he explained. Toros noted that because the profit in the occupied area of Cyprus is estimated in TL a "serious imbalance and contradiction is caused", adding that this created a serious crisis in the Turkish Cypriot economy which will influence all sectors.

He said: "When the businesses have loses from their turnover, they reduce the number of their employees and are activated in a narrower business field. Unfortunately, this is what is happening now. Serious unemployment started and I think that it will increase during the next few months […]"

(I/Ts.)

[06] Cirali and Tulga commented on the outcome of the Mont Pelerin talks

According to the paper, the "chairman" of the "Turkish Cypriot chamber of industry" Ali Cirali, commenting on the outcome of the Mont Pelerin talks, stated that although the result was not the desired one, he considers that "this is not the end of the world or the end of the process".

Cirali expressed hopes that the negotiation process will continue and underlined the need for an outcome to come up after the meeting between Greece and Turkey on December 5. He also claimed that the negative outcome of the summit in Switzerland derives from Greece's stance.

Also speaking, Hurrem Tulga, "general coordinator" of the "Turkish Cypriot chamber of craftsmen and tradesmen" ("KTEZO") referring to the outcome of the summit in Mont Pelerin, stated that they cannot accept that the "process is collapsed" and added that similar crisis and deadlock appeared in negotiation processes in the past and afterwards the negotiations continued from the point they were left.

Stressing the need for both leaders to continue the process, Tulga expressed optimism and added that the two leaders should continue with a five-party meeting, since all chapters of the Cyprus problem were discussed during the last 18 months.

Referring to the forthcoming meeting between Tsipras and Erdogan, Tulga expressed optimism over the outcome of this meeting.

(AK)

[07] Turkish Cypriot press: Akinci succumbed to Turkey's interference at Mont Pelerin; The Turkish Cypriot delegation cried; Empathy is needed

In his column today, the paper's publisher, Sener Levent writes that surprise was caused by the fact that during the discussions on the population issue, the Turkish side was able to impose more settlers from Turkey as citizens of the "new state" by saying that the population in the occupied area of Cyprus increased during the 12 years which passed since the Annan Plan, but it alleged that the number of the Greek Cypriot refugees who would return was high, because some of these refugees died during that period.

In his article in the same paper under the title "The actual maximalist", Mehmet Levent reports that in the eve of the Mont Pelerin talks, Turkish President Erdogan had sent the message that "Morfou can never be returned" and that "a territory below 30% can never be accepted". "This message was the last sign that the Mont Pelerin summit would collapse", he notes adding that only this message by itself showed very clearly who the actual maximalist preventing the solution is.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper's (24.11.16) publisher Basaran Duzgun writes in his column today that on Monday night towards Tuesday morning when the talks at Mont Pelerin collapsed, a member of the Turkish Cypriot negotiating delegation told him that the entire team was crying when it became understood that the negotiations would end with failure". Moreover, the columnist reports UNSG's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide could also not control his tears when the deadlock at the negotiating table became definite. Duzgun argues the following: "It is not only the Mont Pelerin summit that ended with failure. The trust between the two leaders also collapsed. The harmony, which had been created between them, was influencing positively the negotiations. Now not only the problem in the negotiations exists, but also a serious problem of trust between the two leaders".

Furthermore, under the title "Mont Pelerin wreck", columnist Mert Ozdag in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (24.11.16) reports that "the most sincere necessity in this 'game'", as he describes the Cyprus negotiations, is to pass into the "empathy part". Noting that the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots have different "political sensitivities" and way of reaction, Ozdag argues that this makes finding a "middle way" more difficult, something which we saw at Mont Pelerin. He notes the following:

"[…] When the Greek Cypriot side behaved in a concessive manner towards the Turkish side on the issue of population and the political equality, it did this in return to the concession it would take in the territory, we can estimate that. If we need to say it more clearly, Anastasiades is the one who gave Akinci the opportunity to boast that 'all the citizens of the TRNC will become citizens of the new state'. This should be noted […] The Greek Cypriot policy has been pursued for years on the position in its political literature that 'we will return to our homes'. When I think it from their point of view, I find this situation to be justified. […] A war happened and people were forced to leave their homes and the land they were living taking their memories with them. What is on the agenda now is returning home. The official Greek Cypriot policy is established on this position! For them returning home is the meaning of the solution. […] While for us it expresses a meaning over other concepts such as becoming a part of the world, being recognized and being included in the international law. In this case, now finding a shelter in the port called empathy is necessary. We need to realize and stick in our minds that there will be no solution without satisfying to the maximum extent the expectations of the Greek Cypriots formed on the issue of returning to their homes. This is the reason why the positions submitted by the Turkish side at Mont Pelerin on the territory did not lead to a positive outcome and did not satisfy the Greek Cypriots. […] We must get out of this crisis and abandon the taboos, the red lines, these hard positions, whatever you call them. […] We must see that political concerns such as the current unemployment, the worry for the future, the possibility of a conflict and war and turning into Turkey, are worse than the worst solution. Let ten more thousand Greek Cypriots come to the territory in the north, but let us become a part of the international law and sit at the positions which are waiting for us empty in that pool of prosperity and human rights called EU. […] If we remain like this and continue suffering under the Mont Pelerin wreck and this situation becomes permanent, the end of this process is annexation! Regardless of what anyone says, the unofficial Turkish policy that escalated with 2011 is formed with a design which will include the northern part of Cyprus to their lands. […] If we need to say it more clearly, if this last chance is also wasted, the end of this issue is integration. […]"

(I/Ts.)

[08] MHP deputy leader asked for the interruption of the Cyprus talks

In a written statement, Cetin, evaluating Turkey's change of policy on Cyprus as a life necessity, alleged that the bad behaviour of the Greek Cypriots because they have been tolerated in the EU as the owner of the whole island, weakens the hand of the Turkish nation in Cyprus.

Claiming that "the search for a solution on the alleged Cyprus problem has become synonymous with demands of renouncing the sovereignty and territory of the turkishness in Cyprus", Cetin alleged that from the Cyprus talks which have been occurred until today no result has turned out to be in favour of the Turkish nation and for this reason the Cyprus talks should be ended.

Cetin defined the Cyprus talks as "a part of a directed project which aims to break off Cyprus from Turkey, to encircle Turkey and lock the Turkish nation in the Anatolia". He also alleged that it is not possible for Turkey to continue the stand of "give and rescue" in Cyprus.

Cetin further claimed that the Turkish nation will not permit that Cyprus to be offered within a gold tray to the powers that rushed in the area in order to share the wealth of the natural gas and oil of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Alleging that Turkey's security is directly depended on the strategic position of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cetin claimed that the path of controlling the energy and water resources of the region by the Turkish nation is passing from protecting their rights in Cyprus.

(DPs)

[09] Atun: "The goal of the GCA is to claim the entire Turkish land"

Referring to the negotiation talks in Mont Pelerin, Atun alleged also the following: "It has been made crystal clear that the only goal of the Greek Cypriot administration is to claim the entire Turkish land and to perceive the conditions that will obtain this". He went on and underlined the importance of the ISEDAK member state's support to the Turkish Cypriot side.

Atun added also that the "government" provides incentives to foreign investors who want to invest in the "TRNC" and claimed that the foreign investors could "trust" the "government".

Referring to the water transferred from Turkey, Atun alleged that the water will increase the trade potentials for member states of the ISEDAK.

Meanwhile, according to information acquired by the "ministry", Atun, within the framework of the inauguration ceremony of the meeting, he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek. He also held bilateral meetings with Uganda's Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaya, the General Chairman of the Islamist Trade Development Center Dr. El Hassane Hzaine and the Minister of State Planning of the Sultanate of Umman, Salim Said Al-Habsi.

(AK)

[10] An American company will start operating in the occupied area of Cyprus

The chairman of the ATBD Council, Ugur Terzioglu said that many Greek Cypriot businessmen live in the USA and want a lasting solution in Cyprus. He noted that a delegation from the Council and some of these Greek Cypriot businessmen had held contacts both in the occupied area and in the government-controlled area of the island. He argued: "The Greek Cypriot businessmen living in America want the territorial integrity and a lasting peace to be ensured in the island, like the Turkish businessmen who are our members. Owners of huge companies are included among them. They insistently asked from us to open a representation office in the island. […]"

Terzioglu stated that they assigned Serhat Akpinar, second chairman of ATBD Council and chairman of the administrative council of the "Universities' Union" in the occupied area of Cyprus, with the duty of establishing their representation office in the island and added that upon a proposal from the "south Cyprus Greek Sector", as he described the Republic of Cyprus, in parallel to a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot representative, representatives from Greece and Turkey will also become members of the administrative council of the office in Cyprus.

Terzioglou noted also that during this month the US Keller &Williams company, which is active in the land estates field, opened a shop in occupied Keryneia and in this manner an American company came for the first time to the occupied area of Cyprus. He argued that the number of the American firms which invest in the island will increase within the forthcoming period.

(I/Ts.)

[11] Two killed, 21 wounded in terror attack at Adana Governor's Office

Adana Governor Mahmut Demirtas said that a bomb-laden vehicle was detonated near the entrance of his office. "It is thought that a female suspect carried out the attack," Demirtas said, adding that the license plate of the suspect's car had been identified.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus condemned the attack on Twitter, vowing that Turkey would "not surrender to terrorism". EU Minister Omer Celik also vowed Ankara's commitment to "fight terrorism to the end in the name of humanity".

[12] Erdogan rails against high interest rates on eve of Central Bank meeting

In a speech, Erdogan also said that the Central Bank was independent but he reserved the right to criticize it. Following his comments, which were broadcast live on television, the lira sank to a record low of 3.4170 against the dollar.

"Since I took on the job of leading Turkey 14 years ago, I have only fallen short of making headway in a few areas that I desired. One of those is the cutting of interest rates," he said in a speech at the Istanbul bourse.

"I have nothing against the independence of the Central Bank, but I cannot allow my people's will and rights to be taken away with high interest rates," he said.

Twelve of 19 institutions in a Reuters poll expect the Central Bank to hike its main one-week repo rate by 25 basis points to 7.75% on Nov. 24.

That would be the first hike since January 2014, when the bank met in an emergency session and raised its main interest rate to 10% to stem sharp lira falls.

Determined to boost growth, Erdogan - who has previously described himself as an "enemy" of interest rates and declared them a means of "exploitation" - urged the country's commercial banks to do more to bring down borrowing costs.

[13] Turkey to chair presidency of the 2017 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Energy Club

Turkey's nomination to the chair comes after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted recently that his country would consider joining the non-Western body if the EU did not decide on its accession process soon.

Turkey had proposed that all SCO partner countries should take turns in presiding the Energy Club for a year. The proposal was accepted and Turkey was unanimously elected to chair the Energy Club in 2017.

[14] Turkey's parliamentary commission abolishes motion on child abuse

Speaking at a commission meeting on Nov. 23, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said that a specific clause in the 48-item regulation did not include amnesty to "even a single rapist".

"The regulation we put forward did not actually include a single rapist but it was misunderstood. We also could not explain it well. We are withdrawing this regulation due to the public reaction", Bozdag said, before he announced that the motion was totally abolished. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.pio.gov.cy

(DPs/AM)

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