Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-12-19

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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 held a telephone conversation with Biden

[02] Yildirim: "Turkey's stance on the Cyprus problem is very clear"

[03] Akinci: The positive consequences of the solution will go beyond Cyprus' borders

[04] Nami says that the "picture" in the Cyprus negotiations has become clear on all issues except for the security and guarantees

[05] Turkish Cypriot businessmen express support to the solution in Cyprus

[06] TUSIAD's general secretary: Cyprus will become the Singapore of Eastern Mediterranean

[07] Osadchiy: "The problems should be solved by the sides"

[08] Will Serdar Denktas go to Geneva?

[09] Prof. Dr Sozen called on the leaders to form the security and guarantee framework for United Cyprus prior the Geneva meeting

[10] Fourteen soldiers killed and 56 were wounded in attack in Turkey's Kayseri

[11] Ministry replaces HDP mayor in southern Turkish town with trustee

[12] "PKK striking to drag Turkey into civil war"

[13] Turkey's 2017 budget accepted in Parliament

[14] Turkey proposes new schedule for visa liberalization to EU

[15] Ozyigit addressed the meeting of the Socialist International in Malaga

[16] Working hours in the occupied area of Cyprus have changed again

[17] Arikli held contacts in Turkey; He reiterated that any solution on the Cyprus problem without Turkey's active and effective guarantees will not become accepted

[18] GUNSEL the first locally produced automobile

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci held a telephone conversation with Biden

During the telephone conversation that lasted close to half hour, the latest phase of the Cyprus negotiations process was discussed and evaluated.

Biden reiterated the US's support to the ongoing Cyprus negotiations process and expressed the hope that a successful outcome will be achieved during the 9th of January Geneva Summit.

[02] Yildirim: "Turkey's stance on the Cyprus problem is very clear"

Speaking during the 2017 budget discussions at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the Turkish Prime Minister touched upon the Cyprus problem.

He said that the Cyprus problem continued to occupy its place within Turkey's agenda.

He added that the solution plan to emerge must also be approved by the people living in the "TRNC".

[03] Akinci: The positive consequences of the solution will go beyond Cyprus' borders

Noting that the solution in Cyprus will give the message to our region and internationally that "fear must be substituted by cooperation", Akinci expressed the view that the Turkish Cypriots are afraid of the Greek Cypriots because of the events in 1963 and the Greek Cypriots are afraid of Turkey because of 1974. He argued that the way for abolishing the fears that exist in both communities is cooperation and developing together and that time has come for the communities, which shared pain in the past, to make use of the opportunities together and share prosperity and development.

"Turkey's relations with Greece and the EU will be influenced very positively by the solution in Cyprus", he argued and added: "We are working for creating an environment in which all sides to benefit. Important roles fall on all stakeholders. This is the stage we have reached. This is why your support is of great importance for us".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Nami says that the "picture" in the Cyprus negotiations has become clear on all issues except for the security and guarantees

Referring to the property issue, Nami said that "on the property issue they have almost achieved an agreement on mush more clear, understandable and comprehensible criteria comparing to the Annan Plan". "I cannot say that it is 100%", he noted adding that they have achieved significant progress comparing to the point they had been when the negotiations started.

Nami argued that the Geneva conference is something which will take place for the first time, since in Burgenstock the UNSG had invited the two community leaders and Turkey and Greece to assist the leaders, but now the leaders themselves have established that they achieved progress in the negotiations and decided to hold the conference. He said that after consulting with the guarantor powers, their presence in Geneva was decided and added:

"There were various speculations on the issue of how this conference will be held. The way of how this conference will be held is very clear. The two leaders will start negotiations on 9 January under the auspices of the UN. After three days the guarantor powers will also come there and the conference will be shaped in a five-party form. If the two leaders feel the need, they will be able to invite other parties to the conference. The first example that comes to my mind is the EU, because in the end the United Cyprus will be member of the EU and the discussion of many issues with the EU might be needed. Similar form had been implemented in Burgenstock".

Referring to the chapters of the negotiations, Nami said that serious negotiations have been held on all of them and added:

"Perhaps, the issue of security and guarantees has been discussed less, because the guarantor powers should have been at the table for a detailed discussion on this issue. However, the picture has become clear on all issues except for this. The way of establishing the legislative, the executive and the jurisdiction in Cyprus is known, as well as how the independent organs will be taking decisions and what these will be. Many issues such as the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy, the independent institutions for economic issues, the tax policies, the indirect taxes, the direct taxes, the way of achieving convergence between the two economies and the European policies have been discussed between experts. Serious progress has been achieved on these issues. […] Issues such as how we will be benefiting from the EU programs, how we will act inside the EU, how we will be taking decisions and how we will be implementing the changing laws of the EU in our country at federal or constituent state level were discussed and solved".

Pointing out that the property is one issue which influences economy, Nami said:

"Regarding this issue, a new regime which is far from uncertainties and could produce more clear and quick decisions in relation to the Annan Plan was established. Before the establishment of this regime we agreed on the principles with our interlocutor. We agreed that the regime which we would establish should be able to solve the property demands very quickly, should not create instability, should not cause social injustice and should create opportunities and not obstacles for the economy. Following we passed in the details of the regime. And we achieved this. […] Without discriminations between Greeks and Turks, those who have property demands will be applying to an independent Property Commission. In this Commission, there will be an equal number of Turkish and Greek members. Those who have property demands will be able to ask for 'return', 'compensation' and 'exchange' of property, but the Commission will be deciding which of these will be given. […] It will be deciding this according to the criteria which were agreed by the two sides. It is so clear. These criteria were determined in a very evident manner".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkish Cypriot businessmen express support to the solution in Cyprus

Addressing the panel, Deniz Kursat, chairman of ISAD, has said that the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots are emotionally bonded with their property and therefore the property issue is very important. Expressing their support to the solution, Kursat expressed the view that the visa application could become a negative aspect in a united Cyprus which will become an EU territory, because the closest labor force is Turkey. He expressed the belief that this problem will be solved, because "this is very important for the labor force market". Arguing that Cyprus' unification with Turkey on the issue of water and energy has started, Kursat said that United Cyprus will be Turkey's door to Europe.

Moreover, Ali Cirali, KTSO's "chairman", said that the solution in Cyprus will benefit everyone and added: "We are condemned to living in this island. Therefore, we must live in peace and tranquility, not in problems. All of us need this". Noting that the conditions seem to be very close to the solution, Cirali said that their duty is to support the solution and that they fully trust their negotiating team.

Finally, Fikri Toros, chairman of the KTTO, said that according to a survey conducted by the Peace Research Institution of Oslo (PRIO), the total GDP in a divided Cyprus will be 20 billion US dollars within the next 20 years, while in case of a solution, it is estimated that the GDP will increase to 45 billion. "The solution will bring prosperity to Cypriots and peace to the region", he noted adding that the solution will increase Turkey's reputation internationally.

(I/Ts.)

[06] TUSIAD's general secretary: Cyprus will become the Singapore of Eastern Mediterranean

Kaleagasi said that they [the TUSIAD delegation] visited the occupied area of Cyprus to follow the developments on the island and met with Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci and negotiator Ozdil Nami. He noted that if Cyprus does not follow the developments in the world and the solution process does not end positively, this does not mean that the current situation will continue, because things could become worse. He said that Turkey's economy was strengthened thanks to the Customs Union Agreement signed with the EU in 1995 and 1996 and many sectors have come to the position of being able to compete with the world.

Also Kaleagasi argued that Turkey's Customs' Union Agreement could constitute an example for the "TRNC" and added that the EU integration process will be realized systematically and gradually. He added: "The solution process is advancing very well. This success must happen. The solution is very important both for the EU and Turkey and above all for the Turkish Cypriot people".

Referring to the natural gas issue, Kaleagasi said that he agrees with those who say that the natural gas will influence positively Cyprus' future and added: "However, the natural gas alone cannot solve any problem. It will be an important resource for the country after the solution. […]"

(I/Ts.)

[07] Osadchiy: "The problems should be solved by the sides"

"I conveyed today our wishes to the Turkish side concerning the solution in Geneva", stated Osadchiy. Asked to reply to the question "whether Russia wants to attend the Cyprus summit in Geneva", the Russian Ambassador said: "I have said several times that we consider that all problems, including this one, should be solved by the sides".

(AK)

[08] Will Serdar Denktas go to Geneva?

He said that the 10th Democratic Party Women's conference will be held on the 24th of December and that once the authorised committees have been established they will decide together whether he will be attending the Geneva summit.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci officially extended an invitation to political parties with representation in "parliament" to join him in Geneva for the Cyprus summit.

"When we received the invitation I sent a letter to Akinci explaining that the 5 party-conference in Geneva marked the end phase of the situation. Considering this phase has been reached the president must have a draft agreement. Therefore after the new authorised committees are chosen on the 24th of December at our party congress I requested that the president send us this draft agreement so we can discuss it and make a final decision" said Denktas and added: "In January we are moving towards the end phase of an agreement and there is still no draft agreement yet the public is being constantly told that we are at the end of the phase and a solution is close, this is a great deception" Denktas alleged.

He said that if a system that protects the Turkish Cypriots future, equality and guarantees is formed then they as the Democratic Party will vote positively however it this is not so then they will not support the Cyprus agreement.

[09] Prof. Dr Sozen called on the leaders to form the security and guarantee framework for United Cyprus prior the Geneva meeting

Referring to the security and guarantee issue, Dr Sozen argued that "security architecture" should be formed for the United Cyprus prior the Geneva meeting, in order the meeting to be only like a formality, a ceremonial one.

He believes that the price to be paid will be very high in case the process is failed after this stage. For this reason, he does not think that the two sides can do it openly.

Underlining that one of his worries is that whether President Anastasiades finds the opportunity to "put the blame to the other side" and abandon the negotiating table, Dr Sozen said: "I think that if he finds it, he will utilize it". He further said that his second concern is Turkey and Recep Tayyip Erdogan more than Turkey and added: "Let me give him credit for being the side that was supporting solution until today. (…) my concern is that if the process takes longer than expected, if the negotiations still continue at the second quarter of 2017, then it means there is a danger. Turkey may exit by saying 'enough is enough'".

Dr Sozen called on the leaders that they may sit in an unofficial meeting, and should start very soon the give-and-take process with a gentlemen's agreement on all issues. The give-and-take process on the fundamental issues should be done before going to Geneva, so as they won't have any surprise there. He also called on them to show political courage.

(DPs)

[10] Fourteen soldiers killed and 56 were wounded in attack in Turkey's Kayseri

Soylu, who was speaking at a joint news conference with Health Minister Recep Akdag, said 12 of the wounded were in intensive care and four were in critical condition.

"The terrorist was identified," Soylu said. According to daily Hurriyet, a fake ID card with the name Mehmet Oluk was found on the driver. Authorities suggested the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was responsible for the blast.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu phoned the Prime Minister and offered his condolences over the attack.

Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli also remarked on the necessity of struggling against terrorism.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) issued a statement following the attack, saying the HDP strongly condemns the attack.

In addition, Ankara Anatolia news agency (18.12.16) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on for all Turkish citizens to unite against terror and put aside quarrels as the country was hit by a deadly terror attack, a week after twin bombings in Istanbul.

"It is the day for Turkey to be together and not the day to fight," said Erdogan, adding that Turkey "is under the common attack of terror organizations" and that the "secessionist terror organization" – the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) – was using all of its resources. The PKK is trying to block Turkey and divert its "power and energy" in other directions.

[11] Ministry replaces HDP Mayor in southern Turkish town with trustee

Hamdi Bilge Aktas, who was working as the Akdeniz District Governor, has been appointed to the municipality as a trustee and will start his duties on Dec. 19. Police recently detained Mutlu and an arrest warrant was issued for the other co-mayor M. Fazil Turk on terror charges.

Earlier, trustee panels had also been appointed to other municipalities, including the southeastern province of Diyarbakir and its Sur and Silvan districts, the eastern provinces of Van, Siirt and Tunceli, and the southeastern province of Mardin.

[12] "PKK striking to drag Turkey into civil war"

"Exactly a week after a suicide bomb attack in Besiktas that killed 46 people and wounded 166 on Dec. 10, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) carried out another suicide attack which killed 14 and wounded 56 in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri on Dec. 17.

The attack was claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), one of the many ghost organizations of the PKK. It is the name that it uses in urban attacks with civilian causalities.

Kayseri was the 18th suicide bomb attack by the PKK since it announced the end of the three-year dialogue between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) governments and resumed acts of terror in July 2015, right after the June 7 elections.

[…]

Kayseri also has one of the most conservative and nationalistic grassroots in Turkey and is a lock for the AK Parti. Only two week ago, President Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and almost the entire cabinet was in Kayseri for the opening of a museum-library in the name of former President Abdullah Gul in his hometown.

[…]

To agitate attacks on the HDP or simply Kurds living in the big cities of Turkey by conservative and/or nationalist crowds, the PKK hopes for two things to happen: People across Turkey start attacking their neighbors, just because they are Kurds, meaning ordinary Kurds will be forced to take sides with the PKK for protection.

This would be a recipe for a civil war and that is what the PKK is trying to drag Turkey into.

It has to be noted that the arrest of two co-chairs of the HDP and 10 members of parliament on charges of helping terrorism is not helping the struggle against terrorism but rather the propaganda efforts of the PKK, besides eroding the capability of parliament to provide fair representation.

The PKK abandoned the dialogue (and to be frank, the government did not insist on it because the dialogue cost the AK Party Turkish nationalist votes) because it calculated that the civil war in Syria had given it extra bargaining power, especially with the emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) in 2013.

[…] Two developments have spoiled the plans of the PKK.

The first was Erdogan's decision to put the Turkish army (despite being heavily wounded because of the July 15 coup attempt) into Syria in order to both push the ISIL southward from the border, but more importantly to put a wedge into PKK plans to join the Afrin and Kobane "cantons" together to take full control along the Turkish border with Syria. The PKK was disappointed that their blackmail to the United States in slowing down the Raqqa operation (because the Turks where coming) did not cause the Americans to take a firm position against Turkey.

Second, Donald Trump has won the U.S. presidency. If Hillary Clinton had won, that would have meant the continuation of the Obama administration's scenarios. The PKK now believes that the new American policy will not give them the first priority and that they could be left out with bright words praising their heroic resistance against ISIL so far.

Like every other political actor in the world, the PKK wants to reposition itself before Trump takes the Oval Office. The only method the PKK knows is to draw attention by escalating terrorism, spreading it across Turkey, a major U.S. military ally, and attempting to drag the country info a civil war from which the PKK could benefit.

A recent communique in pro-PKK publications in Europe showed that the Kandil HQ urged all militants to do their best to destroy Turkish targets without expecting particular orders from them.

Turkish security and intelligence units are concerned about more PKK attacks in the next few weeks.

It's not only the PKK. There are worries that ISIL and al-Qaeda might attack in the coming days as a reaction to Turkey's shifting policy in Syria and reconciliation with Russia on Aleppo.

[…]

One has to see that a Turkey dragged into a Turkish-Kurdish and/or Sunni-Alevi rift would not be in the best interests of the West either, whether that's the U.S., the European Union or NATO.

[13] Turkey's 2017 budget accepted in Parliament

The first draft of the 2017 Annual Administrative Budget Draft Law was made after the completion of the negotiations.

Of 415 Deputies who attended the first voting session, 312 Deputies approved and the remaining 103 Deputies voted against. Some 414 Deputies attended the second draft voting session, with 312 voting in favor and the remaining 102 voting against. The two drafts were therefor accepted at Parliament.

The Finance Ministry estimates that budget expenses for the 2017 fiscal year will reach 645.1 billion Turkish Liras ($184 billion), while budget income will reach 598.3 billion liras ($170.6 billion).

Some 78 billion liras ($22.2 billion) will be allocated for public investments in 2017, a 30 % increase from 2016.

The biggest portion of public investments will be allocated to the transport sector in 2017 with 22.1 billion liras ($6.3 billion), followed by the education and agriculture sectors with 13.7 billion liras ($4 billion) and 10.3 billion liras ($3 billion) respectively.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the government is "aiming to drive investments."

"In the 2017 budget, investments will increase by 30 % from the previous year. The new budget is set to increase employment and production, especially to support our fight against terrorism by allocating enormous sources to reconstruct our regions … Turkey's most important problem is terrorism, and we hope to overcome this problem," Yildirim said in a speech at parliament.

[14] Turkey proposes new schedule for visa liberalization to EU

According to the proposal, Turkey and the EU would reschedule the fulfilment of the remaining four benchmarks and implement visa-free travel for Turkish citizens inside the EU's Schengen Zone, a senior Foreign Ministry official told the Hurriyet Daily News.

"We are giving our last proposal to the EU. We'll tell them, 'let's agree on a new schedule,'" the official said, adding that Ankara would also set a timetable to meet the four remaining criteria.

However, Turkey is insistent on not changing its anti-terror law, despite the fact that it was a prerequisite among the 72 benchmarks necessary to introduce visa-free travel. The issue has caused a rift between Ankara and Brussels, with the former rejecting the timing of such an amendment.

Ankara had previously said the entire deal, which was aimed to be implemented by the end of 2016, would be scrapped if visa liberalization was not granted.

The Turkish government says it is reluctant to amend the law as it is currently fighting a number of terror groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETO) of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, which the government accuses of orchestrating the July 15 failed coup attempt.

Instead, Ankara proposed the monitoring of the Council of Europe for its practices under the terror law.

[15] Ozyigit addressed the meeting of the Socialist International in Malaga

TDP's leader Cemal Ozyigit, addressing the meeting, talked on the issues of "human rights, democracy, freedom and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean". Ozyigit had also carrying out meetings with the General Secretary of SI, Luiz Ayala, as well as with other representatives of different countries.

(DPs)

[16] Working hours in the occupied area of Cyprus have changed again

Trade unions had been staging strikes over the past two weeks demanding that the "government" set the clocks back to winter time following a tragic accident that claimed the lives of two school children and their bus driver.

According to the agreement reached, "public sector" working hours will be between 8:30am and 3:30pm for the exception of Thursdays which will be between 8:30am-1:00pm and 2pm-6pm.

Classes will start at 8:30pm.

In a written statement issued yesterday, Denktas said that an agreement had been reached with trade unions following talks over the weekend in a bid to prevent the further disruption of education at schools and services at "government offices".

"All civil servants and teachers are expected to abide by the agreement reached between the government and the trade unions" the statement read.

A "government proposal" to pay teachers on morning duty overtime was also withdrawn following the agreement.

Denktas also announced that details regarding school hours and other issues will be finalized at a meeting to be held between the trade unions and officials from the "education ministry" at 4pm this afternoon.

The chairman of the "Public Sector Workers Union" (KTAMS) Ahmet Kaptan however announced that the agreement reached with the "government" only ended the civil disobedience of the "government" and that their struggle will continue until the "government" takes back the clocks to winter time.

The chairman of the Cyprus Turkish Secondary School Teachers' Union (KTOEOS) Tahir Gokcebel said that they reached an agreement with the "government" as previous school hours had a negative impact on students.

He said that the real goal of persuading the "government" to take the clocks an hour back still continues.

Gokcebel also said that planning will be made to ensure that children will make up for the classes they did not attend due to the strike action.

[17] Arikli held contacts in Turkey; He reiterated that any solution on the Cyprus problem without Turkey's active and effective guarantees will not become accepted

Speaking during the meeting with the chairman of the "TRNC Friendship group", Yildiz Seferinoglu, Arikli conveyed the "party's sensitivities" towards the Cyprus problem. He stated that they will continue providing support to Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, adding, however, that they will review this support after the outcome of the Geneva summit.

Explaining that the sides will mutually exchange maps at the summit in Geneva, Arikli claimed that occupied Morfou will be the most important and knotty point.

Referring to Turkey's active and effective guarantees, Arikli alleged that the majority of the Turkish Cypriots will not accept any solution that would dilute them. "Turkey's agenda is intensive and unfortunately it is does not include the Cyprus problem. […] We consider that President Erdogan will not accept an agreement that will eliminate Turkey's rights in Cyprus and which will dilute the guarantor right which is indispensable part of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus", Arikli also claimed.

(AK)

[18] GUNSEL the first locally produce automobile

"The Near East University's Innovation Centre, the AR-GE team and the Automotive Engineering Department developed the Gunsel brand which is the first local automotive car that was built in the TRNC", Bayrak broadcast.

Delivering the first speech at the event the" Near East University's Chairman of the Board of Trustees Associate Professor" Dr. Irfan Suat Gunsel said that they had overcome the adventure of building the "first local automobile" and gave detailed information about the Techno Park that is being built.

The president of the "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce" Fikri Toros for his part said that "this project will carry the Turkish Cypriot people further and will create new opportunities for the people and the country".

The "minister for economy and energy" Sunat Atun during his speech drew attention to the economic benefits of the facilities to the "country". TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/AM)

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