Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-06-19

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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] Davutoglu calls on the Islamic countries to support Turkey on the Cyprus problem

[02] Contacts by Nami in Jeddah

[03] Ozersay says they insist on a road map

[04] MHP wants the immediate interception of the Cyprus talks

[05] Ertugruloglu to attend summer meetings at PACE

[06] Turkish Columnist on the Mosul crisis and Turkey's connections with the ISIL

[08] Turkish court sentences 1980 coup leaders to life imprisonment

[08] Top Turkish court paves way for retrial of Balyoz coup case convicts

[09] Editorial says nomination of Ihsanoglu declares "victory" of change in Turkey's political character In Turkey

[10] Gul and Erdogan to take final decision on the presidential elections and the AKP leadership

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Davutoglu calls on the Islamic countries to support Turkey on the Cyprus problem

Davutoglu touched also upon the problems that the Moslem countries are experiencing in areas such as Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Crimea, Myanmar, Middle East and Africa. He argued that they "should be united for the solution of the problems".

Davutoglu ended his speech by asking support to Turkey's candidature for becoming non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2015-2016.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Contacts by Nami in Jeddah

At the airport Nami met by the Chief Counselor of Turkey to Jeddah, Fikret Ozer and one Ambassador from the Royal Protocol of Saudi Arabia. Nami met yesterday with the General Secretary of ICO, Iyad Amen Medeni and the General Director of Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) Dr El Hassane Hzaine.

Nami held also contacts with the Head of State of the Sultanate of Oman and General Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Hamood Albusaidi, the Foreign Affairs Minister and Minister of African Integration of the Republic of Chad, Moussa Faki Mahamad and the Head of the delegation of Azerbaijan in Jeddah, Aksin Mehdiyev.

Issues on which cooperation could be held in the fields of education, culture and trade were discussed during the meetings. Moreover, Nami briefed his interlocutors on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and on how the Turkish Cypriot side sees the on-going process.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Ozersay says they insist on a road map

The paper writes that Ozersay and Mavroyiannis discussed the chapters of the "European Union" and "the citizenship" during the above-mentioned meeting.

Ozersay noted that the debate which started during the meeting of the leaders on 2 June as regards the road map will continue in the next meeting and that the proposals submitted by the Turkish Cypriot side on the issue are still valid.

Ozersay said that the meeting yesterday was held in a more sincere and friendly environment comparing to the past meetings and added that this positive climate does not change the reality that "a big difference exists between the sides" on the issues of the EU and the citizenship. Ozersay said that especially on the issue of the derogations within the EU a gap exists between the sides. He noted that yesterday the Turkish Cypriot side asked questions and made comments and criticism on the proposals of the Greek Cypriot side on the EU chapter. He added that the debate helped them in better understanding some positions of the Greek Cypriot side, but their dissatisfaction continues.

Ozersay said that the Turkish Cypriot side submitted some proposals and made some statements on the issue of the citizenship and added that the Greek Cypriot side brought proposals on the issue of the economy which will be discussed later with the assistance of experts.

The negotiators discussed also issues which will be taken up during the meeting of the leaders on 25 June.

Asked whether they have reached an agreement on any issue, Ozersay replied: "The statements we make to each other among the issues we discuss create to both sides the expectation that we could achieve progress on some issues. However, before seeing this on the paper in a concrete manner, it would not be realistic to say that progress has been achieved".

(I/Ts.)

[04] MHP wants the immediate interception of the Cyprus talks

Addressing the plenary session of the TGNA, Tugrul Turkes, Deputy with the MHP, said the following: "Our call on the AKP government from here is: Gather your courage and intercept, suspend immediately these negotiations which continue in Cyprus and are in absolutely no way for the benefit of the Turks of Cyprus and Turkey. Let all parties which participate under this honorable roof gather and let us sign a common declaration. Let us condemn the political and Hellenistic decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and point out that shaping the international law against Turkey is wrong".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Ertugruloglu to attend summer meetings at PACE

Tahsin Ertugruloglu "deputy" with the National Unity Party (UBP) is attending the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe 's (PACE) summer meeting in Strasbourg. The meeting will take place between 23-27 June.

[06] Turkish columnists on the Mosul crisis and Turkey's connections with the ISIL

Under the title "The mess in Iraq, Kirkuk, and the Turkish Foreign Ministry", Ihsan Yilmaz writes in Today's Zaman (19.06.14) that the withdrawal of the Iraqi Army from Kirkuk forces Turkey to recalibrate policy on city:

"[?] In the past, Turkey did everything it could to prevent the emergence of a strong government in Iraqi Kurdistan, and Turkey argued that Kirkuk must be part of the central Iraqi government and not part of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Now, the fact that the Iraqi army has deserted Kirkuk, which is now controlled by the KRG, is forcing Turkey to recalibrate its policy on the city. [?] "Enverist" [Enver Pasa was known for his adventurism] AKP politicians are showing signs that they're dreaming of a "Greater Turkey": Turkey plus Iraqi Kurdistan, which is still independent, but would be under Turkey's influence and even tutelage. These are of course utopian and even dystopian dreams, since these adventures could cause a serious headache and further problems for Turkey.

In the past, Turkey did not want Kurds to have Kirkuk because Turkey didn't want Kurds in Iraq to be richer and more powerful, which Ankara thought would lure the Kurds in Turkey. [?] The AKP has partially inherited the Kemalist approach, but, with its neo-Ottomanist vision, it has convinced the Kemalist establishment that Turkey must be friendly with Iraqi Kurdistan. [?] The Recep Tayyip Erdogan-Ahmet Davutoglu duo may have some fears over, concerns about and limits to the "Envero-Islamist" adventurism in their minds, and may prefer a weaker Kurdistan that is open to Turkey's influence and tutelage. This step is necessary for Erdogan's ambition to become the leader of the Muslim world. [?] From another perspective, however Erdogan and Davutoglu feel, they will definitely obey the US administration on points where it is very clear, unambiguous and firm. And, as of today, the US wants a united Iraq, not three independent (de facto or de jure) Iraqi states: Kurdish, Shiite and Sunni. [?] If Erdogan is elected president of Turkey, he will push for Greater Turkey under his leadership. If he feels powerful enough, he may even decide to "allow" the KRG to control Kirkuk! Thus, it depends on how powerful he feels after the elections. [?]"

Under the title: "Turkey and ISIL", Yasar Yakis writes in Today's Zaman (19.06.14):

"The seizure of members of Turkey's Mosul consulate came as a surprise for Turkey [?]. The rapid ascent of ISIL started in 2004 with the creation of the Jama'at al-Tawheed wal Jihad to resist the US invasion of Iraq. It changed its name several times [?] In 2013, when Syria became a breeding ground for terrorism, the porous border between Syria and Iraq facilitated the spread of the organization throughout Syria. Consequently the name of the organization was changed to ISIL.

The attention of countries supporting the Syrian opposition was so focused on the overthrow of Bashar Assad that the emergence of ISIL did not bother them. Some of them may have even considered them a welcome development since, after all, ISIL was helping them overthrow the Assad regime. It is only after the world witnessed the ruthless practices of ISIL that certain countries distanced themselves from this terror organization.

Since its inception several factors contributed to the organization's rapid growth. [?] At present the organization is financed by private donations from the Gulf countries, extortions from the businessmen and grocers, ransom money from people they kidnap, bank robberies, etc. [?]

Currently there are 32 Turkish drivers being held by ISIL, who say that they will only be released if a $5 million ransom is paid. The next targets of ISIL include Baghdad and Shia holy places in Iraq, such as Karbala and Najaf further south. If these holy places fall into the hands of a Sunni extremist organization, much bloodier sectarian clashes will be unavoidable.

ISIL's success in Iraq provides several dilemmas for Turkey. If the Iraqi territories inhabited by Turkmens (Mosul, Kirkuk, Tall Afar, etc.) become part of the ISIL territories, they will be subjected to strict Sharia. In Syria, Turkey's southern borders will be surrounded by the Syrian Kurds, Bashar Assad's regime and ISIL. Many ISIL recruits used Turkish territory as their transit route to join their units in Syria therefore; we have to assume that they may have established liaisons with many Turks. These Turkish connections will always pose a security threat to Turkey."

In addition, under the title "Is there a link between ISIL kidnappings and Turkey's presidential race?" Merve Sebnem Oruc writes in Sabah (18.06.14):

In 1979, an angry mob of Iranian students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took more than 60 Americans hostage. U.S. President Jimmy Carter allowed Iran's deposed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to enter the U.S. to receive medical treatment. The students, and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the Iranian revolution, demanded the extradition of the toppled Shah for trial of the crimes committed during his reign. The hostages were freed 444 days after the crisis began and just minutes later Ronald Reagan took the oath as president. According to many, the hostage crisis cost Jimmy Carter a second term. The crisis absorbed his concentration and his focus on the hostage crisis kept him away from the campaign rallies. [?]

I have been thinking of the Iran hostage crisis ever since the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) kidnapped 49 people in the Turkish consulate and 31 Turkish truck drivers in two separate attacks in the Iraqi city of Mosul. I didn't notice the similarities between the two crises until Monday. [?]

On Monday, the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) announced their common nomination for the upcoming presidential election with their invisible partners, the Gulen Movement and business tycoons. Their nominee Eklemettin Ihsanoglu, former Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, was known for being a silent Muslim over the coup in Egypt and Assad's crimes in Syria, an attitude directly opposed to Recep Tayyip Erdogan's. This significant contrast indicates that the presidential race will be built upon debates regarding Turkey's foreign policy.

We can't be sure for now but I will not be surprised if the countries or organizations that back or cooperate with ISIS have a finger in the abduction of the Turks to make sure that it costs Erdogan's presidency as the Iranian hostage crisis did Jimmy Carter. Who knows?"

[07] Turkish court sentences 1980 coup leaders to life imprisonment

In late old age, former generals Kenan Evren, 96, and Tahsin Sahinkay, 88, were sentenced to life. They did not attend court because of poor health, instead appearing via videolink from hospital. Their trial began in April 2012 with the prosecution claiming the pair had attempted to "eliminate" the Turkish constitution and overturn Parliament. Prosecutor Erdinc Hakan Ozdabakoglu asserted that the defendants began plotting the coup a year before it was launched and requested heavy prison sentences despite the men's age and infirmity.

[08] Top Turkish court paves way for retrial of Balyoz coup case convicts

The Constitutional Court issued its ruling on June 18, after merging 230 separate individual appeals that were filed by the convicts. The ruling is likely to have repercussions in the political arena as well, as political debates are already heated in the run up to the August presidential election.

[09] Editorial says nomination of Ihsanoglu declares "victory" of change in Turkey's political character In Turkey

"The nomination of Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu by the CHP's [Republican People's Party] and the MHP's [Nationalist Action Party] chairmen jointly will not change the outcome of the presidential elections, but, it will definitely show that Turkey's political character has changed. Surrendering to the extraordinary change that took place within the last 10 years, Kilicdaroglu and Bahceli have declared that it will no longer be possible to have a leader who does not have a conservative profile at the head of this country. It was necessary to merge the rule of politics and administration with the general tendency of the society, and yesterday, the last great resistance against that was broken.

Whoever is going to run for the first, second, third chairs of this country, whoever is intending to govern Turkey must either get their reference from the conservative tradition, or be somebody approved by that tradition.

That is the change? Erdogan must have probably sat back in his chair and nodded with a smile on his face when he heard the news. Who would have thought?

Until 10 years ago, let alone 10, only three to five years ago, the issue of identity that was the object of rejection and denial has become now the only way out in politics. How can the Prime Minister not be happy with that roof candidate? The CHP chose its candidate from the Islamic Organization and not the Socialist International. The party that was the bastion of Kemalism is not capable of presenting the public with a candidate who comes to the fore with his Kemalist identity. It is obliged to produce a conservative name by submitting to the course of history and the trend in the society.

The failure to think of a Kemalist for Mustafa Kemal's chair, and the acceptance that such a candidate cannot be chosen by the society is a great development. Not having the courage to even participate in the elections with such a candidate is declaring the end of an era.

The name of the candidate is not Kemal Dervis, Yilmaz Buyukersen, Deniz Baykal, Nur Serter, Ilker Basbug, or Kemal Kilicdarolgu. It is Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu?

That is because, it is known that none of the names listed will come out of the ballots. Then the only hope that is left is that the candidate be at least a "conservative." So that he can reduce the number of votes for Erdogan?[?]"

[10] Gul and Erdogan to take final decision on the presidential elections and the AKP leadership

During the meeting, the two are likely to make a decision on the name who will serve as the "caretaker prime minister" and head of government for the 10 months between the presidential elections and the June 2015 parliamentary elections, in the event of Erdogan's candidacy and victory. In recent polls conducted by the AKP, a majority of respondents favoured Gul serving as prime minister, in an implementation of a formula similar to a "Putin-Medvedev model," under which Gul and Erdogan would swap roles. In such an event, Gul, who is not a member of the Parliament, will be elected to the AKP's leadership during the party's autumn congress this year and will thus lead the party in the electioneering ahead of the June 2015 vote. According to this scenario, during the 10 months between the August vote and the June 2015 vote, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan or former Transport Minister Binali Yildirim could serve as the caretaker prime minister.

Meanwhile, Erdogan is tight-lipped not only in public statements but also while speaking with party executives on whether he will run in the August vote. Sources close to the prime minister recall that he likes to make significant statements on "Good Fridays," so could make his presidential candidacy announcement on June 27. Other sources suggest that Erdogan could wait until July 3, which is the final date for individuals to officially submit their candidacy. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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