Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-11-25

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[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: Let us concretize a date for a five-party conference

[02] Cavusoglu: The target is for the negotiations to give a result in 2016

[03] Ozgurgun: "The EU will have no say in the TRNC if Turkey is excluded from the bloc"

[04] Turkish Cypriot daily on Cavusoglu's illegal visit: Turkey will develop a new strategy and use Cyprus as a trump card against the EU

[05] Turkes: "It seems from the developments that If the Greek Cypriot side continue its determined stance, we will agree that we do not agree"

[06] Kurtulmus: Cyprus settlement is still within reach in a certain period of time

[07] Erdogan's adviser: The "TRNC" should become Turkey's province; Columnist: Cavusoglu should declare that Turkey does not want to annex Cyprus 8 Denktas called the Turkish Cypriots to be watchful over the forthcoming developments on the Cyprus problem

[09] Talat: "If accepting the Security Council to be the guarantee, we will become Syria"

[10] Izcan: A territory between 28,2% and 29,2% is enough for the Turkish Cypriots

[11] Ozersay: "Annexation with Turkey is not an alternative, we want to be self-administrated"

[12] Turkish Deputies on the Cyprus talks

[13] Erdogan: Turkey will 'open up border gates' if the EU goes further

[14] Turkey slams European motion to halt EU accession talks

[15] Ankara vows 'retaliation' against Syrian attack on Turkish troops

[16] Former AKP Deputy: Davutoglu met Gulen in US

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: Let us concretize a date for a five-party conference

In statements today after meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Akinci argued that there is an opportunity in front of us, we should not waste it and act in order to take a result being committed to this target by setting a date for a five-party conference.

Noting that the sides should come together again, Akinci said they should focus on the requirements of the 11 February 2014 agreement and added: "Understandings outside this will lead us nowhere. Meanwhile, the dates are not still known, but Erdogan and Tsipras' meeting is possible. What should be done is to ensure their coming close as well on the issues of the guarantees and security. And we will discuss the remaining issues and prepare a political framework. There might be some issues regarding the implementation which will remain for 2017. A referendum might even be held in the mid of next year by separating time periods for the people. All sides should act positively on this issue. Difficulties expect us in 2017. Let us not waste this opportunity. Let us concretize the date for a five-party conference in a result oriented manner being committed to this target".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Cavusoglu: The target is for the negotiations to give a result in 2016

In a short statement today after his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci and "government" and opposition party "officials" in the occupied area of Cyprus, Cavusoglu said that the meeting was extremely productive and added: "We were happy to see consensus between the president and the political party officials. We have put forward our will on the issue of taking a result the soonest. Our support on the issue of the confidence building measures was also there. Our target is for these negotiations to give a result now within 2016 in the direction of the targets set by the 11 February 2014 framework document and steps to be taken for a lasting solution. And a concrete road map should be determined for this including the five-party conference".

On the same issue, illegal Bayrak television (online, 25.11.16) broadcast that the purpose of Cavusoglu's working illegal visit to the "TRNC" is to establish "which stage the ongoing Cyprus problem talks were at" and what "the next move will be" for the Turkish Cypriot side.

Cavusoglu met with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci at 9.30 this morning.

The Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami and the General Director of the Turkish Foreign Ministry's Department of Cyprus Affairs Burak Ozgurgun were also present at the meeting.

Later, self-styled prime minister Huseyin Ozgurgun and self-styled deputy prime minister Serdar Denktas and self-styled foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu joined the meeting.

The leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhurman and the leader of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit also joined the meeting.

Following the meetings, the Turkish Foreign Minister attended a lunch hosted in his honour by Ozgurgun.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Ozgurgun: "The EU will have no say in the TRNC if Turkey is excluded from the bloc"

Ozgurgun words came during an interview to the Anadolu Agency in response to the non-binding motion passed by the European Parliament yesterday urging the European Commission and national governments to temporarily halt membership talks with Turkey.

He alleged that no one could drag the Turkish Cypriots into a situation where Turkey is not present and where they would be under threat of becoming a minority under Greek or Greek Cypriot influence. "We will never allow this to happen" he added.

Touching upon the Mont Pelerin talks, Ozgurgun claimed that the Greek Cypriots had negotiated in the presence of the international community to change the balances in their favour. "The Greek Cypriots have never seen the Turkish Cypriots as their equals nor do they accept Turkey's presence or guarantees in Cyprus" he argued.

Ozgurgun also accused the Greek Cypriot side of trying to lay the blame of the failure of the Mont Pelerin talks on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side. "The international community continues to make mistakes on the Cyprus issue acting unfairly and unjustly against the Turkish Cypriots" he claimed, adding that the international community refused to hold the Greek Cypriot side or Greece accountable for the role they played in the failure of the talks.

He questioned what the purpose of continuing the talks will be if the Greek Cypriot side intends to continue dragging the process and alleged: "We see no point in continuing these negotiations. If these talks will be held just for the sake of holding talks why should we (the Turkish Cypriot side) sit at the negotiating table and waste all our time and energy? The Greek Cypriot side will continue to pursue its strategy of playing for time for years. We will not be able to reach an outcome for years".

[04] Turkish Cypriot daily on Cavusoglu's illegal visit: Turkey will develop a new strategy and use Cyprus as a trump card against the EU

The paper writes, inter alia, the following in its "The Hero of the Day" column: "[?] It is understood that after the collapsed summit, Turkey is trying to develop a new strategy. Even though some consider this visit as a new and advanced step in the way for a solution after the deadlock, the situation does not seem like this at all. Especially after the resolution as regards Turkey at the European Parliament, there is absolutely no doubt that now they will use Cyprus as a trump card against the EU".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkes: "It seems from the developments that If the Greek Cypriot side continue its determined stance, we will agree that we do not agree"

Replying to Deputies' questions in the Assembly, Turkes referred to the Mont Pelerin talks in Switzerland and claimed the following: "The Greek Cypriot side appears to carry out talks but it utilizes all means to leave the table".

(AK)

[06] Kurtulmus: Cyprus settlement is still within reach in a certain period of time

Turkey's U.K. ambassador Abdurrahman Bilgic, his counterpart Richard Moore and the Director General of the Office of Public Diplomacy in Turkey Ali Osman Ozturk also attended the meeting at the British Parliament, sources told Anadolu Agency.

Kurtulmus and Lidington discussed a wide range of issues, including the aftermath of the recent coup attempt in Turkey, the peace talks on the Cyprus issue, developments in Syria and Ukraine and Turkey's war on terror.

Kurtulmus will continue meetings in London on Friday, including at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs and will meet with representatives of the Turkish community.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (online, 25.11.16) reports that according to sources, Kurtulmus during the meeting with Lidington, stated that there is still hope for reaching a solution on the Cyprus issue in a certain period of time.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Lidington said that they appreciate Turkey's encouraging role in the Cyprus talks, which have reached recently a deadlock.

Kurtulmus, for his part, said that a settlement is still within reach. He reminded that the Turkish side has been supporting the negotiations and endorsing a settlement in Cyprus since the 2004 Annan Plan.

(DPs)

[07] Erdogan's adviser: The "TRNC" should become Turkey's province; Columnist: Cavusoglu should declare that Turkey does not want to annex Cyprus

He alleged the following: "I will give Cyprus to the EU and then I will beg to go to Cyprus with a Schengen visa! This is a crime! This island being a united whole in this geographic region is tantamount to murdering the Turkish Islamic existence. If the TRNC wants to continue in this manner, it will become Turkey's province and continue its way. We give the water, the electricity to the island. All economic dynamics are shaped over Turkey. Some are still conducting EU's, Britain's propaganda. Effort is being exerted for closing down the Imam Hatips. Who is behind this?"

Meanwhile, referring to Yigit's statements, columnist Sami Ozuslu asks Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu the following questions today in his column in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (25.11.16): "Mr Cavusoglu, are you denying Yigit Bulut's statements? Will the TRNC become Turkey's province? Do you have such an integration policy? That is, will you annex the half of Cyprus to Turkey? Is this included in Turkey's secret agenda? As Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs have you supported Federal Cyprus' accession to the EU as a whole? Or do you also feel ashamed of coming out from Turkey's zone and entering into an EU zone?"

Arguing that no one can persuade him that Ankara's pressures did not play a role in the collapse of the negotiations at Mont Pelerin, Ozuslu recalls so-called prime minister Ozgurgun's statement before Mont Pelerin, that President Erdogan told him that "Morfou could not be returned". The columnist notes that he does not take seriously into account Bulut's statements and adds: "However, if Cavusoglu does not deny these statements and does not say that 'our official position is a federal Cyprus' and does not exhibit a clear stance on the issue of the territory and the guarantees, I will take it seriously into account".

(I/Ts.)

[08] Denktas called the Turkish Cypriots to be watchful over the forthcoming developments on the Cyprus problem

"No one should think that this is over and that the process has collapsed. They will be putting something new in front of us?they will try and persuade us?that is why I am urging everyone to be vigilant", Denktas alleged.

Stating that discussions regarding territorial concessions on the table ranged between 28.2 to 29.2% Denktas pointed out that there were ambiguous claims that 80 to 100 thousand Greek Cypriots would be allowed to return to areas conceded in the event of a settlement.

He said that he still had concerns despite the fact that the Turkish Cypriot side had been reprieved due to the developments in the process.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis (25.11.16) under the title: "Our people should remain alert" reports that Denktas, evaluating Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci statements, the "minutes" and the latest reports published in the Greek Cypriot press, warned that "the course of event is full of dangers".

Alleging that "they were left totally homeless on the issues of sovereignty and political equality", Denktas claimed that the producers as well as the economy and the public sector faces the danger of collapse.

Referring to the property issue and especially to the property issues to be evaluated by the "Assessment Council", Denktas alleged the following: "In the property issue, if you build a building in a plot of land starting from the scratch, then this is a development. Also, if you have received the permission for the construction and the construction plan is ready but the construction had not started, this is also considered a development. But if you have built a floor to a one house-floor given to you in 1974 or afterwards, then this case will be brought to the 'assessment council'. And it would be considered as development only if the upper addition floor's cost is higher than the cost of the down floor and the land, something which is not possible. So, the fact is that the great majority of the properties in the country will be transferred to the 'assessment council".

[09] Talat: "If accepting the Security Council to be the guarantee, we will become Syria"

"The rotating presidency, the issue of effective participation and other essential issues like the territory and the security should be put into a package. In order to do this, the ties with Turkey should be improved. This preparatory work should be done together with Turkey. All issues that remained unsolved should be packaged and be discussed altogether. This should be explained also to the UN. If not, then the Turkish side should prepare a package and put it into the negotiating table", Talat stated.

Criticizing the statements made by both sides regarding the issue of guarantees, Talat warned: "They tell us that the Security Council will be the guarantee. This would turn us to become Syria. They say that the Security Council or the EU will be the guarantee?All these cannot be accepted by the Turkish Cypriots. It would be better to lift all guarantees than having the Security Council as a guarantee. If the Security Council becomes the guarantee, we will become Syria. Currently, the five Permanent Members of the Security Council, except China, carry out a war in Syria. This is out of question. It is also out of question for the Security Council to participate in a multi-conference. Of course, it is the UN that will have the final say", said Talat.

Referring to the issue of Morfou, Talat alleged that the Greek Cypriots cannot be satisfied if Morfou will not be returned, and this should become accepted by them. "The return of Morfou was included in the Annan Plan. But still, the Annan plan was including also the rotating presidency and the guarantees. If you want to make regulations on the Annan plan, you should not avoid making regulations on other issues as well", Talat stated. He went on and said that the Gali set of ideas included also Morfou. "Morfou is a psychological issue for the Greek Cypriots", he added.

(AK)

[10] Izcan: A territory between 28,2% and 29,2% is enough for the Turkish Cypriots

In a written statement issued yesterday, Izcan expressed his sorrow for the collapse of the negotiations at Mont Pelerin and noted that this is not the end of the road as the process should continue and be intensified. Izcan expressed the view that the sides should not start a blame game and that facing difficulties is normal in a problem such as the Cyprus problem, which is so old and complicated.

Moreover, Izcan called on the sides to give concessions to each other and recalled that "these concessions will remain in Cyprus". Arguing that the ground for holding a five party conference should be prepared, Izcan said that the negotiations should continue in Nicosia, the matters which are still open should close and the international conference to be held having as few problems as possible, since "the important thing is for the international conference to end successfully".

(I/Ts.)

[11] Ozersay: "Annexation with Turkey is not an alternative, we want to be self-administrated"

Ozersay recalled also the statements he made three weeks ago in the Greek Cypriot newspaper "Politis" when he said that it is not a choice for them and it is not possible for the Turkish Cypriots to "participate in the current Greek Cypriot state". "At the same time, it is not an alternative for us our annexation to Turkey, this is not the solution. And we cannot accept this", Ozersay also said.

(AK)

[12] Turkish Deputies on the Cyprus talks

Meanwhile, Yusuf Halacoglu, Deputy with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), speaking in press conference at the Parliament said that the politics are too intensive in this period and serious developments are occurred in Cyprus, which is described as a security for Turkey. He also said that although the Cyprus talks have be locked nowadays, they will probably resume.

Referring to the guarantee's system in Cyprus, Halacoglu claimed that whatever change of the guarantee's rights is part of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO) and product of a hostile move against Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.

(DPs)

[13] Erdogan: Turkey will 'open up border gates' if the EU goes further

"You never treated humanity honestly and you did not look after people fairly. You did not pick up babies when they washed ashore on the Mediterranean. We are the ones who are feeding around 3.5 million refugees in this country", Erdogan said.

"You did not keep your promise. When 50,000 refugees turned up at the Kap?kule [border gate] you cried out and began to say 'What will we do when Turkey opens the border gates? Look, if you go further, those border gates will be opened. You should know that", he added.

[14] Turkey slams European motion to halt EU accession talks

Turkey's Minister for EU Affairs Omer Celik described the motion as "null and void". Speaking at a news conference in southern Adana province, Celik said the motion was not "something to be taken seriously".

Adopted Thursday by 479 votes to 37, with 107 abstentions, the motion called on "the Commission and on the Member States to initiate a temporary freeze of the ongoing accession negotiations with Turkey".

"We would respect the motion if it was constructive despite being critical [of Turkey]. However, this motion is politically inconsistent", Celik said. Pointing out that it was a non-binding and non-legislative motion, the Minister said: "They adopted it for political purposes. Those who want to give us a message should know that the Parliament's message would not get through the Kapikule Border Gate [a crossing point between Turkey and the West]."

In the motion, MEPs strongly condemned the "disproportionate repressive measures" taken by the Turkish government since the July 15 failed coup attempt. These "violate basic rights and freedoms protected by the Turkish Constitution", they pointed out. The text also said Turkey used "non-proportional security measures" during the country's state of emergency, extended for another 90 days in October.

Celik also denied those claims and said: "The measures taken in the aftermath of the July 15 coup night are not unlawful". The Minister called on "prudent" figures in the West to save the EU from the "vicious cycle it has been in".

"There is no crisis between Turkey and EU, but it is a crisis of political inconsistency within the EU".

EU Minister Celik later gave a speech at the Turkish Parliament and reiterated his criticism over the European Parliament motion. "From our point of view, the European Parliament decision, which came today, is a manifestation of the mistake made by mainstream politics towards extreme right's wishes and evaluations".

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also criticized the European Parliament's motion, saying: "This decision does not have any importance for us".

Responding to journalists' questions in Ankara, Yildirim said that Turkey's relations with the EU are already poor.

Recalling recent EU remarks that Turkey was "indispensable for security", Yildirim said he expected the leaders of EU member states to "lift up their voice against this lack of vision".

During an interview on state-run broadcaster TRT, Yildirim said that without Turkey refugees would invade Europe and added: "The EU should see it. The breakage of the relations would harm Turkey but do more harm to the European Union," Yildirim said.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli slammed the European Parliament for not cutting loose ties with terrorism. "[The European Parliament] registered its insincere and cold view on Turkey, and revealed its ulterior motive again. The Turkish nation refuses the European Parliament's decision. The MHP curses this groundless and invertebrate decision."

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Anadolu Agency that the European Parliament decision had no validity for Turkey. "Essentially, the decision humiliates the European Parliament and the European Union", he said. "The European Parliament brought its credibility to ground with this decision."

Cavusoglu said that the U.K. exit from the EU was due to the bloc's lack of vision and esteem.

"The EU should [...] learn lessons from its mistakes as soon as possible", he added. "If they want to bring Turkey to its knees with these kind of decisions, this is useless."

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus has also slammed the European Parliament's latest decision regarding Turkey-EU relations. "We see altogether how biased the decision that shows hostile perceptions against Turkey is," Kurtulmus told a reception held in Yunus Emre Institute in London.

"We do not need to take it seriously or make long comments on this decision. It was obvious from the evening of July 15 and the following developments. We hoped our friends in Europe had taken sides with Turkey from the start of the bloody coup attempt of July 15 and exhibited their political strength against this antidemocratic gang. But unfortunately, we received very little support."

On the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 24.11.16) reports that Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy leader Ozturk Yilmaz said that the decision paved the way for Turkey to become a "one-man regime" and reiterated his party's continued support for the continuation of the negotiations.

"The decision, within the given circumstances that Turkey is in, is not a decision to help Turkey in its democratic struggle. On the contrary, it is a decision that paves the way for the government to continue on its own path", Yilmaz said Nov. 24.

"They [EP] give the government leverage in the executive presidency debate so that the European Union cannot be a part of it. We think this is wrong. This decision is not legally binding; it is a political decision," he said.

[15] Ankara vows 'retaliation' against Syrian attack on Turkish troops

"It is obvious that there are some who are unhappy with Turkey's fight against [the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] DAESH. But this attack and other such attacks [on Turkish troops] will be retaliated," Y?ld?r?m told reporters on Nov. 24.

He also reaffirmed the assessment of Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar that the attack was carried out by the Syrian regime.

Meanwhile, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has said that the air attack by Syrian regime forces in Aleppo that killed three Turkish soldiers could drag Ankara down a "dangerous path", and called on the government to act with "common sense."

"The statement made by the General Staff, and the news that our soldiers were shot by aircrafts from the Syrian government could bring us to a very dangerous place. It could drag Turkey into a very dangerous process," Kilicdaroglu said on Nov. 24.

"I cannot say anything beyond advising government officials to act with a common sense. In our region, Turkey has always been a basic balancing factor. I believe it's very important to act with common sense," said the CHP leader.

[16] Former AKP Deputy: Davutoglu met Gulen in US

"In those days, the AKP had great obedience to him [Gulen]," Ilhan Isbilen told the court during the second hearing of the case of the July 15 failed coup attempt, believed to have been masterminded by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO).

"He [Gulen] had pictures taken with all AKP lawmakers. They all visited him. Everybody has visited him in that house in the past four years," he added.

Isbilen also denied claims that he was Gulen's "successor," and denied being a member of FETO. "I have nothing to do with any of the cases, and I don't know who carried out the coup," he said.

Upon questioning, Isbilen said he did not consider FETO to be a "terrorist organization". TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/AM)

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