Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 18-12-05

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Ozersay: The "opening" for the Maronites will advance to the extent of financial possibilities ? 10 "citizens by exception"

[02] Tatar: "A two-state solution will be in the agenda"

[03] Eroglu: "Our people would not say no to a confederation or a two-state solution"

[04] Witnesses said remains of Greek Cypriot missing persons had been thrown in occupied Dikomo dumping ground

[05] Famagusta Initiative: "The Maronite villages to be taken out of the military zones"

[06] Akansoy: "The situation of the Maronites is heartbreaking "

[07] "South Cyprus is abroad"

[08] The inflation increased to 1,60% in November 2018

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Turkey approves prison sentences for HDP's Demirtas, Onder

[02] Turkey's pro-Kurdish party MPs begin hunger strike to protest isolation of PKK leader

[03] Erdogan: Turkey will continue to enhance ties with Latin American, Caribbean countries

[04] Cavusoglu: Turkey expects 'solidarity' from NATO

[05] Ankara, Moscow, Baku and Tehran will form joint venture on information technologies

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[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Ozersay: The "opening" for the Maronites will advance to the extent of financial possibilities ? 10 "citizens by exception"

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Yeni Duzen (05.12.18) reports that Kudret Ozersay, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has announced the decisions taken yesterday during a meeting of the "council of ministers" presided by self-styled prime minister Erhurman.

According to Ozersay, the "council" decided to grant "citizenship by exception" to ten persons, in continuation of its two last meetings. "It is possible to refer to two categories regarding the persons to whom citizenship by exception will be granted as decided", he argued and added: "They are children, who have either been born in our country and live here for a period longer than 20 years or came here when they were young and live in the country for more than 20 years and their parents are citizens, but they could not become. At the same time, a decision was taken about two persons who had made an important concrete investment".

Referring to the return of the Maronites to their occupied villages, Ozersay argued that, as it happened in the case of the opening of the barricades in Deryneia and Apliki, it was decided that the "competent ministries" coordinated by the "prime minister" will administrate the materialization of the "opening for the Maronites" gradually and to the extent of the existing financial possibilities. He said that the Turkish Cypriot leader would be briefed and if necessary consultations with him would be also made.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Tatar: "A two-state solution will be in the agenda"

Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (05.12.18) with the above title, on its front page, reports that the new leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) Ersin Tatar claimed: "While the solution of the Cyprus problem is being discussed, the solution of the two-states will be also in the agenda and the party will give particularly weight on this issue".

Speaking during a visit in the occupied village of Lefka, Tatar argued that during the meeting with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar, conveyed the message that the two-state solution should be on the agenda. He added: "We had also contacts with Turkey. From now on, a two-state solution model should be discussed. I gave a clear message to the UN. Without our Turkey, a solution would not be. I said to Spehar 'Your world is different from our world. In your world there is Turkey's exclusion from the island'. I told her that the anticipated solution would annihilate and dissolve us within the EU. I told Spehar what we want and our worries. I told her that we would not accept a solution that Turkey would not have the unilateral right of intervention. I warned Spehar not to set us a trap."

Criticising Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci's policy on the Cyprus issue, Tatar claimed: "We will not give him a free hand. We will raise the rightful voice of the Cyprus people. Let Mr Akinci hear this, he would no longer be given a free hand".

The paper also reports that Ms Spehar visited on Monday the headquarters of UBP. According to a press release by UBP, the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and possible methods to be adopted in the event of new process of negotiations was to be launched were discussed during the meeting which lasted about an hour.

(DPs)

[03] Eroglu: "Our people would not say no to a confederation or a two-state solution"

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (05.12.18) reports that Dervis Eroglu, former Turkish Cypriot leader, called Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to avoid making mistakes and to re-evaluate the Cyprus issue by prioritizing the realities, the Greek Cypriot side's wrong stance and the interests of his "people".

In a written statement, Eroglu argued: "The Turkish Cypriot people wants a solution, they want to get rid of the injustices of the Greek Cypriots, to get the place they deserve in the world, but they do not say that this is only a federal solution. Our people do not say no to a two-state solution and to the confederation".

Eroglu also claimed: "While even the Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades and his circle refer to the possibility of a two-state solution, while Turkey's Foreign Minister defends the need of alternative ways of solution should be presented at the negotiating table and while it is obvious that the majority of the TRNC assembly also supports this, the statement 'the only possible solution is the federation' does not fall to Akinci". Eroglu further argued that Akinci's approach that "the Turkish Cypriot people do not want other solution than the federal solution and this is the only possibility" is not correct.

(DPs)

[04] Witnesses said remains of Greek Cypriot missing persons had been thrown in occupied Dikomo dumping ground

Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kibris (05.12.18) reports that Gulden Plumer Kucuk, Turkish Cypriot member of the Committee on the Missing Persons, has said that they had received information from eye witnesses regarding the transfer of remains of some Greek Cypriot missing persons to occupied Dikomo village's dumping ground, but the correctness of the above information had not been confirmed yet.

Noting that the remains of some missing persons from the periods 1963-64 and 1974 had been transferred from their first places of burial, Kucuk argued that the Turkish Cypriot side did whatever it could during the investigations.

She recalled that the dumping ground in Dikomo had been rehabilitated during the 2010-2012 period with EU funds and added that they were trying to find out at which point the remains could have been thrown. She also said that they had not decided yet as to whether they would carry out excavations at that place because it is considered very dangerous due to the existence of methane gas.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Famagusta Initiative: "The Maronite villages to be taken out of the military zones"

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (05.12.18) reports that the Famagusta Initiative called on the breakaway regime to show the necessary political will so that Maronites to return to their occupied villages.

In a written statement of its representative Mertkan Hamit, the Famagusta Initiative asked as a first step the occupied Maronite villages to be taken out of the military zones.

It is also stated that there was not any development regarding the return of the Maronites after the declaration made on the issue by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, who said that the necessary "legal arrangement" will made to safeguard the return to their villages.

(CS)

[06] Akansoy: "The situation of the Maronites is heartbreaking "

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.12.18) reports that Asim Akansoy, "deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) speaking yesterday to the "assembly" said that the conditions that Maronites live in the occupied area of Cyprus are heartbreaking, adding that everyone should show sensitivity over the issue.

He went on adding that there was no development of the Maronites' return to their occupied villages, after the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci made a statement over the issue.

Akansoy said that Maronites living in the "TRNC" carrya "blue identity" and they are deprived of many of their rights. Asking why the problems related to them are not solved, Akansoy requested from the relevant "ministries" to state what they have done until now and what they are planning to do over the issue. He also said that discriminations should be eliminated.

(CS)

[07] "South Cyprus is abroad"

Under the above title, Turkish Cypriot newspaper Afrika (05.12.18) reports that Fadila Chikhou, a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus of Syrian origin, who had stepped on Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's picture during a protest in the government controlled area of the island and was arrested the day before yesterday by the "police" of the breakaway regime, was taken to "court" again yesterday. The "judge" decided that she should remain free until her "trial", that she should visit the "police station" once a month and that she should pay a bail of 10 thousand Turkish liras. Moreover, Chikhou's travelling documents were confiscated and she was banned from travelling "abroad".

The paper's publisher, Sener Levent notes that "abroad", according to the decision, means that she cannot cross over to the government-controlled area of the island. He also recalls two other cases of murders committed in the government controlled area in the past. The perpetrators escaped to the occupied area of the island, but the regime did not put them on trial for the murders they had committed, in spite of the fact that they admitted their crime.

"The justification of the competent authorities in the north was the following: If the crime has been committed in the south, the trial cannot be carried out in the north", says Levent in order to show the contradiction in the regime's behaviour.

(I/Ts.)

[08] The inflation increased to 1,60% in November 2018

Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (05.12.18) reports that the "state planning organization" ("DPO") announced that the inflation rate (Consumer price index) in November 2018 increased by 1,60% compared to the previous month and by 31,93% comparing to December 2017 and by 34,16% to November 2017.

(DPs)

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[B] Turkish Press

[01] Turkey approves prison sentences for HDP's Demirtas, Onder

Turkish daily Yeni Safak (05.12.18 https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-approves-prison-sentences-for-hdps-demirtas-onder-3468291) reports that a Turkish court approved a sentence of four years and eight months in prison for former head of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtas "for spreading propaganda of an armed terrorist group".

A three-year and six month prison sentence was also approved for HDP lawmaker Sirri Sureyya Onder.

Around a dozen HDP lawmakers are currently in prison pending trial for terrorism-related offenses after their parliamentary immunity was lifted in May 2016.

[02] Turkey's pro-Kurdish party MPs begin hunger strike to protest isolation of PKK leader

Turkish Ahval portal (05.12.18 https://ahvalnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/ahvalnews.com/hdp/turkeys-pro-kurdish-party-mps-begin-hunger-strike-protest-isolation-pkk-leader?amp) reports that ten Deputies from Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) on Tuesday began a hunger strike in support of former jailed HDP Deputy Leyla Zana, who has been on a hunger to protest the solitary confinement of jailed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan, BBC Turkish reported.

Tuesday marked the 27th day of Zana's hunger strike in support of PKK leader Ocalan, who is serving a life sentence on an island prison in Turkey since 1999, on charges of treason for leading the armed group which has been fighting Kurdish autonomy in southeast Turkey for over 30 years.

Ocalan has spent most of his 19 years in solitary confinement on Imrali Island, where for a number of years he has been denied access to his family, legal counsel or independent medical advice, according to his lawyers.

The HDP lawmakers, including the party's co-chair Pervin Buldan, carried a banner in Parliament reading, 'Zana is right, solitary confinement must be lifted,' Evrensel said.

"Parliament is the foremost place where one must voice their opinions. Because the problem is not just concerning Leyla Zana. The problem is not just concerning the HDP. This is Turkey's problem and it is becoming increasingly complex,'' it quoted Buldan as saying.

A Turkish court sentenced Zana to 10 years in prison on charges of spreading propaganda for the PKK, a charge which Ankara has levelled at numerous HDP lawmakers, following the breakdown of an HDP-mediated peace process between the government and PKK armed rebels in May 2016.

There are currently 9 HPD MPs behind bars, including the party's former co-chairperson Selahattin Demirtas.

[03] Erdogan: Turkey will continue to enhance ties with Latin American, Caribbean countries

Turkish daily Yeni Safak (05.12.18 https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/erdogan-turkey-will-continue-to-enhance-ties-with-latin-american-caribbean-countries-3468260) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated: "Turkey will continue to enhance bilateral and multilateral ties with Latin American and the Caribbean countries," said on Tuesday at a Press conference.

Erdogan also evaluated the G20 summit and said, "We emphasized the importance we attach to the fight against terrorism at the G20 summit and underlined our sincerity regarding the issue."

Erdogan's remarks came after concluding his visits to Argentina, Paraguay and Venezuela.

He said the leaders discussed global trade, infrastructural investments, modern tax system, new risks and vulnerabilities in the financial system, as well as the fight against terrorism during G20 Leaders' Summit in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

Erdogan said that following the G20 meeting, he was honored to pay Turkey's first presidential visit to Paraguay and Venezuela.

"I believe that we will more clearly see the positive effects of our meetings on our relations with Paraguay and Venezuela in the upcoming period," he added.

[04] Cavusoglu: Turkey expects 'solidarity' from NATO

Ankara Anatolia news agency (05.12.18 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkey-expects-solidarity-from-nato-cavusoglu-/1329699) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday said his country is "one of the largest contributors to NATO" and "expects solidarity".

"Transatlantic bond is key to #NATO and to our collective security," Mevlut Cavusoglu, who is in Brussels to attend NATO Foreign Ministers meeting, said in a Twitter message.

"As one of the largest contributors to NATO missions and operations, #Turkey expects solidarity from the #Alliance in all issues," Cavusoglu added.

In the first day of NATO meeting, Cavusoglu attended sessions titled "Georgia and Ukraine", and "Transatlantic Security". The Turkish Minister also met separately with his German, Icelandic, Spanish, Italian and Romanian counterparts.

On the second day of the meeting, Cavusoglu will attend sessions titled "Western Balkans" and "Afghanistan - Resolute Support Mission".

[05] Ankara, Moscow, Baku and Tehran will form joint venture on information technologies

Turkish daily Yeni Safak (05.12.18 https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-russia-azerbaijan-iran-agree-on-it-venture-3468252) reports that Ankara, Moscow, Baku and Tehran will establish a joint venture on information technologies, Turkey's Transportation and Infrastructure Minister said on Tuesday.

"Four countries have decided to form a joint venture to facilitate closer working opportunities of public and private sector institutions operating in the field of information technologies and to open up opportunities for them," Mehmet Cahit Turhan said.

His remarks came at the Azerbaijan-Russia-Turkey-Iran four way ministerial meeting in the capital Baku.

During the meeting, the Ministers discussed new companies, satellite services and fiber-optic networks.

Turhan said the geographical location of the four countries is important for the communication space of Europe, Africa and Asia.

The Minister also attended the 24th Azerbaijan International Telecommunications, Innovations and High Technologies Exhibition and Conference (BAKUTEL 2018).

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS/AM)

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