Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-12-18

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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: We have to ensure that the Greek Cypriot "no" vote of 2004 turns into "yes" and the Turkish Cypriot "yes" remains unchanged

[02] Korkmazhan: Granting "citizenship" to another 26,500 persons shows insincerity and torpedoes the negotiating process

[03] Akin alleges that he did not kill Solomou on the Turkish flagpole in Deryneia in 1996, but he would kill if a similar incident happened now

[04] A delegation of Silifke Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited the breakaway regime seeking for cooperation possibilities

[05] Ozgur: Turkish Cypriots must stand on their own two feet

[06] Turkish official: Turkey, Israel in talks, may reach deal soon

[07] Soldiers use heavy weaponry in Southeast ops, 25 PKK members killed

[08] Turkish PM in Brussels ahead of EU summit

[09] Putin: Russia not to halt Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: We have to ensure that the Greek Cypriot "no" vote of 2004 turns into "yes" and the Turkish Cypriot "yes" remains unchanged

In statements yesterday during a meeting with a delegation from Turkey's Building Constructors Union, Akinci noted that this is not an easy job, that they are expecting it to be a difficult process and that the road they follow has ups and downs, but the picture is neither black nor rosy.

The chairman of the Turkish Building Constructors' Union, Mithat Yenigun said that they visited the occupied area of Cyprus to sign a protocol of cooperation with the Turkish Cypriot Building Constructors. He noted that they wish to establish consortiums and spread all over the world, adding that they are active in 104 countries until now.

Akinci said that this cooperation bears exceptional importance during this period for Cyprus, that the process of building Cyprus' future is being experienced and that all they wish is for the negotiations to be concluded with a peace agreement acceptable by both sides.

He noted that they realize that new horizons will open with the early solution of the Cyprus problem and that Turkey's EU accession process will be speeded up. He argued that Turkey's good relations with the EU benefit Cyprus as well.

Akinci expressed the view that if a reasonable way is found for exploiting the energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean everybody will win and if a mistake is committed restlessness will be experienced. He argued that the reasonable way is for the Israeli and Cypriot natural gas to be united and transferred to Europe through Turkey.

Referring to the water transferred to the occupied area of Cyprus from Turkey, Akinci described it as "a new scenario by which all sides may gain".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Korkmazhan: Granting "citizenship" to another 26,500 persons shows insincerity and torpedoes the negotiating process

In a written statement, Korkmazhan said that the negotiation process aiming for a Cyprus settlement is at the most critical stage and added that while the sides have reached an agreement and accepted proposals presented by the Turkish Cypriot side regarding the population and the "citizenships", the continuation of distribution new "citizenships" reveals the insincerity of those who say they want a solution.

Korkmazhan said that the efforts of changing the demographic structure of the Turkish Cypriots and the population transfer system should end.

(DPs)

[03] Akin alleges that he did not kill Solomou on the Turkish flagpole in Deryneia in 1996, but he would kill if a similar incident happened now

In statements yesterday to Ada TV, Akin, who is currently member of the party council of the Democratic Party ? National Forces, said that he is still wanted by Interpol with a Red Bulletin and added: "I said it then as well. Come and take my gun for a ballistic control. [?] If such a thing happened to our flag today, I would personally do this, because he violated my borders. [?] The flag is our honor, our pride. I am not ashamed of being accused of such a crime. However, our police, our army, our security forces were there. I said that the person who had given the order for Solomou to be shot was a deputy then. In fact, great confusion was created because I had said the name. He even became so helpless to be able to react afterwards. [?]"

(I/Ts.)

[04] A delegation of Silifke Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited the breakaway regime seeking for cooperation possibilities

Speaking during the visits, Kaynar said that they were looking for cooperation possibilities in the occupied area of Cyprus. On her part Sibel touched upon the importance of such visits and said that "visiting the TRNC and observing the trading opportunities here would make a difference". Touching upon the difficulties in the trade caused by the non-recognition of the "TRNC", Siber said that these hardships could be overcome through mutual steps to be taken.

On his part Kalyoncu stated that such visits provide a basis for increasing various partnerships. Reminding that the Cyprus negotiation process is continuing, he said: "Whether or not the Cyprus issue will be resolved, the Turkish Cypriot people will become stronger as a result of such possible partnerships to be established." Kalyoncu also mentioned the problems being experienced in exporting and touched upon the importance of openings on the issue.

[05] Ozgur: Turkish Cypriots must stand on their own two feet

"I am addressing you as a minister of a state which is dependent on foreign assistance. We are doing politics to resolve this situation. We are carrying out a political struggle to create the conditions where the Turkish Cypriots will be able to stand on their own feet and the system we build will become self-sufficient. It is only natural that on the domestic front this is being conducted as a political struggle. When talking about foreign-source dependency; the conditions which are needed to maintain financial sustainability depends on economic growth. Of course this requires a process" Ozgur said.

He added that they have been working towards resolving the "public" finances' dependence on foreign sources.

Ozgur also stressed the importance of developing trade and economic relations between Cyprus and Turkey but warned that the Turkish Cypriots should not be bypassed while doing this. "We want Turkey-Cyprus relations to develop. We want the formation of economic mutual dependency relations to start before a solution. We have a demand; we don't want the Turkish Cypriot people to be bypassed while trade and economic relations are developing between Turkey and Cyprus. The participation of Turkish Cypriots in this

process is critically important for us. It could directly affect our social and political distinction" Ozgur added.

[06] Turkish official: Turkey, Israel in talks, may reach deal soon

"We have not reached an agreement yet," the official said on Dec. 17 while responding to a question on reports which said the two countries reached a preliminary deal. "But (talks) may bear results soon," the official said.

Talks with Israel have been ongoing for some time, Turkish prime ministry officials told Hurriyet Daily News, adding that talks were continuing in a positive manner, but no consensus was reached.

Israel and Turkey have reached a preliminary agreement to normalize relations, including the return of ambassadors to both countries, Reuters quoted an Israeli official as saying earlier on Dec 17.

A Turkish foreign ministry official told Hurriyet Daily News that the two countries have come to an understanding. The official said that Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu represented Turkey at the talks in Switzerland and he returned to Turkey.

According to Reuters, a preliminary deal was reached during a recent meeting in Switzerland between the incoming head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, Yossi Cohen, Israeli envoy Joseph Ciechanover and Sinirlioglu, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment and there was no immediate comment from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, it said.

Under the preliminary agreement, according to the report, Israel will establish a compensation fund to address the killing by Israeli marines of 10 Turks aboard an aid ship that tried to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip in 2010, the official said. Turkey would then drop all claims against Israel, the report said.

The Israel-Turkey alliance ties deteriorated after the incident.

Efforts to reconcile the countries, including in a 2013 phone call between Erdogan and Netanyahu that was brokered by U.S. President Barack Obama, have yet to yield a final deal restoring full diplomatic ties.

[07] Soldiers use heavy weaponry in Southeast ops, 25 PKK members killed

The Sur district of the southeastern province of Diyarbakir has seen some of the most severe fighting in the region, with clashes and frequent day-long curfews imposed in the district since late July. During clashes on Thursday, two police officers were injured and rushed to nearby hospitals. Elsewhere in the city, militants threw handmade explosives under an armoured police truck, triggering a brief confrontation between police and fleeing assailants.

The operations in the Sur district of Diyarbakir and the Cizre and Silopi districts of Sirnak province are being jointly conducted by gendarmerie units and police officers. Regular gunshots can be heard day and night in those districts.

[08] Turkish PM in Brussels ahead of EU summit

Davutoglu told reporters in Brussels that all leaders have "strongly supported" the Turkish government's initiatives on the migrant issue. He also praised German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her strong leadership on the issue and for taking the initiatives on relations between Turkey and the Europe.

The meeting, held at the Austrian Embassy in Brussels before a broader EU summit, was attended by nearly a dozen European leaders, including Merkel, who is counting on Ankara to stem the flow of hundreds thousands of Syrians from Turkey into Greece and then to Germany and other EU countries.

[09] Putin: Russia not to halt Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey

Putin also said that contrary to current media reports, Russia did not invest $3.5 billion in the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant.

Last week, various media agencies claimed Russia's nuclear agency Rosatom had halted construction work at the Akkuyu plant, but this was immediately refuted by the company itself and the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Ministry.

PM Davutoglu also Monday said that there is no reason to halt the planned nuclear power plant with Russia. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS / LF)

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