Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-12-09

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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] Erdogan to attend the five-party summit in Geneva; statement by Kalin

[02] Ak?nc? evaluated his contacts in Brussels

[03] Turkes says that in case of a solution Turkey will demand the money it granted to the breakaway regime

[04] Atun: The solution will create many opportunities in the economy, but also cause difficulties

[05] Arabac?oglu: The Turkish army is a safety valve for Turkish Cypriots

[06] Candar replies to Denktas' allegation on the use of European aid in the Turkish Cypriot community

[07] Turkey repeated its call on Greece to extradite all fugitive soldiers

[08] Y?ld?r?m: "The Shanghai Pact is not an alternative to the EU"

[09] Turkey toughens passport control on German diplomats in retaliation for the Cologne incident

[10] Three hundred Turkish commandos will reportedly join the Euphrates Shield Operation

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Erdogan to attend the five-party summit in Geneva; statement by Kalin

Deputy General Secretary and the Spokesperson of the Turkish Presidency Ibrahim Kal?n announced that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also be attending the five-party Cyprus conference which will be held with the participation of the UN and the guarantor powers.

Speaking yesterday at a press conference at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Kal?n also responded to questions regarding the Cyprus problem.

He stated that 2016 was a critical year for the solution of the Cyprus problem and for the reunification of the island. "2016 is almost ending. Our expectation was to achieve a result from the Mont Pelerin summit; however, this was not achieved. It was extended to 2017".

Reminding that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Ak?nc? will be coming together with President Nicos Anastasiades again, between January 9-11, he explained that the two leaders will try to finalize negotiations on all chapters. "On the Cyprus issue, since the Annan Plan we have always been one step ahead thanks to the statements made by our President. This policy continues. Turkey continues to be one step ahead on the Cyprus issue", he alleged.

Kal?n also claimed that the Turkish side had acted in a positive manner and presented leading proposals during the Mont Pelerin talks. "The two leaders until the 9th of January will continue to take up the issues which they couldn't reach consensus on during their last two meetings. It is highly important that a model which will be bi-communal, bi-zonal and based on the political equality of the two sides to be reached", he said.

"If this can be achieved, it will be significant for the unification of the island and for the security, prosperity and peace of the two peoples on the island", Kalin added.

Stating that a historic era will start with a solution, Kal?n said: "We continue with our constructive stance and I can say that we are so close to the solution of the Cyprus problem if the right steps can be taken."

[02] Ak?nc? evaluated his contacts in Brussels

Evaluating his contacts in Brussels at the illegal Tymbou airport, he described them as very beneficial. "Political equality, security and guarantees and Turkey's EU relations were discussed in Brussels. We specifically reiterated the Turkish Cypriot side's sine qua non to our collocutors" said Akinci.

Explaining that he met with the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Parliament Mart?n Schulz, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Vice-President of the Commission, Federica Mogherini, the German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier and the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland, Akinci said that he had received great support to the solution process, adding that all of these positive responses reflect the Turkish Cypriot side's' will towards a solution.

Alleging that the aim of a five- party conference on the 12th of January is to indicate that they had reached the end of the road on the Cyprus process, Akinci said that when you look at the bigger picture you can see that all sides will benefit from a solution in Cyprus.

Ak?nc? also stated that he was pleased to see the European Union's desire for a solution and added that during his bilateral contacts with the President of the EU Commissioner Jean Claude Junker, he had confirmed the EU's financial support to the Turkish Cypriot people.

"We are not against the EU taking part in the five-party conference based on the Burgenstock model but we do not think it is appropriate for any other institutions to participate", Akinci said.

Touching upon the importance of the announcement that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will take part in the summit, Akinci said: "This initiative shows Turkey's desire for a solution. Hopefully Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will also decide to attend the summit".

He further stated that the support given by Turkey to the process is very important for the Turkish Cypriot side and reiterated his invitation to the political parties represented in "parliament", to attend the five-party conference in Geneva, noting that everyone should shy away from bias and prejudgments during this time.

[03] Turkes says that in case of a solution Turkey will demand the money it granted to the breakaway regime

"If you perceive this as 'Turkey is giving economic support to the Turkish Cypriot community there', you perceive it wrongly. There is an unjust isolation there. The young people cannot even play a football match. We are implementing a temporary subsidy against this unjust isolation. Besides, in case there is an agreement, we will of course demand this [money back]".

Referring to the Cyprus negotiations, Turkes alleged that while Turkey as guarantor power does not interfere in the negotiations in any way whatsoever, the Greek Cypriot side said [in Switzerland] 'let me ask Greece and the political parties' and "ended" the negotiations. He argued that the West "stepped in" in the process towards an agreement due to energy and "other reasons" and forced the Greek Cypriot side to return to the negotiating table.

Alleging that the Greek Cypriot is the side which does not approach an agreement, but it secures the support of the West and accuse the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey of not wanting a solution, Turkes argued that as a result of the policy implemented by Turkey during the last 1,5 years their "game has been completely revealed". "We are not interfering and we think that no interference is needed", he claimed noting that Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci and negotiator Nami are carrying out the negotiations extremely well. "From time to time they even exert a little too much effort. There is absolutely no interference in this either. In spite of this, the Greek Cypriot side does not move", he alleged and claimed:

"You are doing your part that is necessary for the sides to agree. Does Akinci say 'I will meet with Turkey'? He does not. Do we say to Akinci 'come and explain this to us'? We do not say this. Why are you meeting? […] Afterwards he [Translator's note: President Anastasiades] returned and said 'let me meet with the parties on the island'. These are small parties from which he sought support for his own election. We know that all these are parties which oppose an agreement. This time he abandoned the table as a result of meeting with them. Now the West is pushing them. It pushes for the need of an agreement because of the energy and other reasons. We are waiting. This is the situation now. I am telling this to our western interlocutors. If this time [a solution] does not happen, in case the Greek Cypriot side does not show the slightest will for an agreement, its minimum good will, we will agree that we cannot reach an agreement. If we agree on disagreeing, we will expose the unjust practices by the West regarding the isolation of the Turkish side and we will resort to other ways in order to relieve them […]"

(I/Ts.)

[04] Atun: The solution will create many opportunities in the economy, but also cause difficulties

Addressing the "assembly' yesterday", Atun said that there is economic "imbalance" between the two communities and drew attention to the importance of having a transitional period. He alleged that his "government" supports the solution process and wishes for the Turkish Cypriots to unite with the world.

Atun said that after an agreement is reached on the Cyprus problem, there will be full freedom of movement as regards goods, services and capital and that indirect taxes will be staying in the federal state, while the direct taxes will be going to the "founding states".

Noting that the federal income will be used according to the population and the national income, Atun pointed out that even though the "budget" of the Turkish Cypriots has improved through structural changes, an important part of the "budget" which is being discussed now at the "assembly" consists of credits and aid coming from Turkey. Atun said that a big part of the "budget" is covered by indirect taxes and noted that following a possible solution to the Cyprus problem some additional taxes might be needed.

Finally, he argued that the economic "agreements" between the regime and Turkey should be transferred to the "federal structure" in case of a solution, as the current situation could create great difficulties.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Arabac?oglu: The Turkish army is a safety valve for Turkish Cypriots

Arabacioglu, who was speaking at the "assembly", stated that the Turkish army is a secret authority for the sovereignty and security of the Turkish Cypriots. "And this is something felt by every Greek Cypriot who crosses to the north from the south", he said.

He added that this time there are good chances a solution to be reached in the Cyprus negotiations and expressed his concern about what this procedure bring for the future. He said that the purchase power of the Greek Cypriots is much greater than that of the Turkish Cypriots, alleging that this could create problems. He also claimed that there are formulas on how the Greek Cypriots could take their properties back. He said that in case 200,000 Greek Cypriots try to get their properties in the north back, the structure of the "state" could change and with time this will be legitimized.

(CS)

[06] Candar replies to Denktas' allegation on the use of European aid in the Turkish Cypriot community

Candar stated that only 7,4 million out of the 402 million euro were given to "Non-Governmental Organizations" (NGOs) noting that this amount is only 2% of the European aid. He added that the remaining 395 million euro were used for infrastructure projects of the "state" and the "municipalities", like schools and roads, the development of human resources and of middle range firms.

He also stated that thousands of Turkish Cypriots benefited directly or indirectly from these projects.

(CS)

[07] Turkey repeated its call on Greece to extradite all fugitive soldiers

"We have difficulty in understanding the refusal to extradite the five fugitives to our country while the extradition of the three other soldiers has been approved," Huseyin Muftuoglu, Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said in a statement on December 8.

Reiterating Turkey's demand for the extradition of all fugitive soldiers to Turkey, Mutfuoglu underlined that Turkey would continue to closely follow the ongoing legal process.

(…)

[08] Y?ld?r?m: "The Shanghai Pact is not an alternative to the EU"

Y?ld?r?m stated that Turkey is not "switching" its position away from the European Union through its cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Energy Club, but is rather enhancing its "determining position in the region. We have times of good relations with the EU as well as times of crisis and currently it is a little tense. I do hope it recovers soon. Next year, there are elections in five EU member states thus uncertainty [in the EU] will continue."

"Our remarks on the Shanghai Pact are nothing new. We have been doing so even when our relations with the EU were normal. The Shanghai Pact is not an alternative to the EU", Yildirim added.

"[…] We are not using it [SCO] to scare the EU. Turkey cannot disregard the threats and opportunities it faces. We do not have the luxury to say 'the EU is our only option and we will be there whenever it wants us to be there'", Yildirim also said.

(…)

[09] Turkey toughens passport control on German diplomats in retaliation for the Cologne incident

German diplomats who arrive at the passport checkpoints of Istanbul's Ataturk Airport are allowed to enter or exit Turkey only after going throught an extensive investigation. According to Anadolu agency, four German citizens missed their flights as a result of the prolonged procedure.

The implementation of this measure came after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed Germany for temporarily withholding Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Ayse Nur Bahcekap?l? at the airport in Cologne. After her bag and diplomatic passport were stolen in Cologne, Bahcekap?l? obtained a temporary passport from the Turkish Consulate. But the airport police did not let her travel with the document and kept her under custody at the police station.

Referring to the incident, Erdogan warned that the actions of the German police would have consequences if the incident was not probed. "You take and host terrorists but you make the Deputy Parliamentary Speaker of this country wait for hours in the airport. Shouldn't we do the same to them? And then they call Erdogan a dictator! I would retaliate in the same way if your police wronged my Deputy Parliamentary Speaker, a female lawmaker," Erdogan also said.

(…)

[10] Three hundred Turkish commandos will reportedly join the Euphrates Shield Operation

The special troops of the 11th Command Brigade departed from the Cardak Military airport in the western province of Denizli, said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The special operation forces known as the Blue Berets were airlifted to the Syrian border, the source added. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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