Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 14-08-06

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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] CHP: If Erdogan is elected, he will cause Turkey severe trouble

[02] The Military Board appointed new commander for Gendarmerie

[03] Ozyigit calls on Bakirci to resign because of visiting Marseille on the expenses of a private company

[04] Ozgurgun: "The Yorgancioglu government should step down"

[05] Elcil replies to criticism for being a member of the English School Board of Management

[06] The project of opening Cukurona University in occupied Trikomo may be suspended

[07] The water from Turkey will reportedly not be more expensive than the current water price; It will reportedly come by October

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] CHP: If Erdogan is elected, he will cause Turkey severe trouble

"I call on my people: If you want war, if you want our children to be killed in wars in the Middle East, go and vote for Erdogan. But if you want peace, if you want Turkey to help the Middle East to resolve its problems, then vote for Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu", Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) told Hurriyet Daily News yesterday.

For Kilicdaroglu, the main reason for this is Erdogan's policy of importing ethnic and sectarian conflicts from the Middle East to Turkey. "I am afraid he will drag Turkey into war in the Middle East. He will put Turkey into severe trouble."

Recalling that 49 Turkish citizens, including Turkey's consul-general in Mosul, have been kept as hostages by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) for nearly two months, Kilicdaroglu asked: "Have you ever heard Erdogan speaking about this issue? No, because he does not want to anger ISIL. It was him who supplied weapons to ISIL and to al-Qaeda. And now these weapons are being used against Turkey and its citizens."

The main opposition leader suggested that because of Turkey's poor foreign policy performance, the country has lost its credibility and influence in the region to countries such as Iran and Egypt. "No one is knocking on Turkey's doors. He [Erdogan] confessed himself that he can't talk to [Barack] Obama [the President of the U.S.]," he said, adding that Turkey's image has been completely tarnished by Erdogan. "No world leader wants to be seen next to a corrupt President," Kilicdaroglu stressed.

With days left to the elections, Kilicdaroglu shared his optimism that the opposition's joint candidate can even win the Aug. 10 election in the first round. "You never know, he may win it," Kilicdaroglu stated.

Underlining that 60% of the society wants an impartial President and that perfectly defines Ihsanoglu, Kilicdaroglu said, "What is the function of the President? Obviously not making roads or building bridges. The President is a person representing the country and its flag. Therefore, he has to be fully transparent and not corrupt."

The law on presidential elections needs to be amended, he said, adding a live debate between the candidates should be mandatory and implemented in the law. "He is afraid of appearing together with the other candidates. Because you know, it's a common character of dictators. All dictators are cowards," he said.

According to Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan's strategy for the presidential elections has two folds. He is trying to turn the presidential polls into general elections in which political parties are competing and that's why he is provoking Kilicdaroglu and Bahceli, the CHP leader said. "He is doing this because he wants to consolidate his voters," he said. His second strategy is to chase MHP votes by using nationalistic language, Kilicdaroglu maintained, saying, "He depicts himself as the candidate of the people. What people? He is the candidate of the corrupt people and of the thieves."

As for the third candidate, Selahattin Demirtas, Kilicdaroglu used positive language to describe the presidential candidate of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), saying he found his campaign messages to be positive. "I find the messages of Mr Demirtas' issued and his manners, as well as his approach of being 'Turkey's party' throughout the election process positive," Kilicdaroglu said. But, he added, the number of CHP voters who will decide to vote for Demirtas on Aug. 10 will be few, contrary to expectations.

When asked if his chairmanship would be affected if the CHP was not successful in the 2015 general elections, Kilicdaroglu said: "It's not right for anybody to insist in staying as the chairman of the party forever. The party should be able to develop a candidate who can be the party's future leaders. Young, better educated potential leaders should not be blocked. That's what I believe," he added.

[02] The Military Board appointed new commander for Gendarmerie

The statement for Gen. Atay's appointment was made by Ahmet Sever, the spokesperson of President Gul. The decisions taken by the YAS was approved by Gul before the announcement. Contrary to the expectations, Gendarmerie Forces Commander Gen. Servet Yoruk is retired. The handover will take place late August.

Except for Yoruk, the military echelon remained same as Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozel has another year in office.

The promotions of military officials are expected to be announced by the office of the Chief of General Staff.

[03] Ozyigit calls on Bakirci to resign because of visiting Marseille on the expenses of a private company

In a written statement issued yesterday, Ozyigit said that this is "unacceptable" and added that in an interview with a private news website, Bakirci confessed that all the expenses of the visit, except for those of his wife, were covered by the above-mentioned company. Ozyigit described Bakirci's act as "unethical" and "lacking moral values".

Ozyigit noted that the matter does not concern Bakirci only and argued that the self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu and the so-called deputy prime minister Serdar Denktas should make a statement on the issue. He said that Bakirci failed in his job until today both with his actions and with what he did not do. Ozyigit noted that in spite of the fact that from the very first day he came on duty Bakirci had said that "5-6 stone quarries are enough" in the occupied area of Cyprus, he undertook no initiative on the issue.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Ozgurgun: "The Yorgancioglu government should step down"

Ozgurgun further said: "Cyprus' first and foremost issue is to discard the Yorgancioglu government. There is no effective government, and it has reached to the end. To insist on continuing with this government is equal to the continuation of our people's suffering."

He noted that all the unions are protesting and that a collective protest plan is prepared, adding: "The prime minister still thinks that he is sufficiently ruling north Cyprus and via the party newspapers he is trying to form a false public opinion. Mr Yorgancioglu is trying to blame the Cyprus problem for all the inefficiencies they have, including the changing of the constitution, so that he can escape all responsibility."

[05] Elcil replies to criticism for being a member of the English School Board of Management

In a statement yesterday Elcil noted: "I have been carrying out this duty for one year. This is not a paid job. Let everyone knows his limits. The duty I perform in a school where 146 Turkish Cypriot students attend, should, if anything, be a source of pride".

He said that the Republic of Cyprus does not belong only to the Greek Cypriots and that the Turkish Cypriots have also rights in it. "And I am using this right", he added.

(I/Ts.)

[06] The project of opening Cukurona University in occupied Trikomo may be suspended

Arabacioglu also said that a delegation from the breakaway regime is currently carrying out contacts at the Cukurova University and this issue will be at the agenda again. He added that their aim is for the "TRNC" (transl. note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Rpeublic of Cyprus) to become a "country of universities".

The chairman of the union Engin Serhan Comert conveyed to Arabacioglu their request of the opening of the university in the occupied area of Trikomo.

[07] The water from Turkey will reportedly not be more expensive than the current water price; It will reportedly come by October

Turgay Hursoz, "director" of the so-called water affairs department stated that the 45 out of the 63.8 kilometer-long pipeline are completed.

Hursoz said that the water from Turkey will come in September or October. He said that the work on the shore of Turkey and the occupied area of Cyprus ended and added that they are waiting for the weather to be improved for the pipelines' passing through the sea. He noted that 80% of the pipelines in occupied Nicosia were completed and that 98% of the network was renovated. He also said that the reservoirs which will supply occupied Nicosia are at the stage of being completed.

(I/Ts.) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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