Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-04-17

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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] Olgun: Germany seems determined to play a positive role in the Cyprus problem

[02] Two UBP "mayors" announce their support to Ozersay instead of Eroglu

[03] The majority of the "voters' in the occupied area of Cyprus are between the ages of 31 and 45

[04] Eroglu: I will end the Cyprus issue one way or another

[05] Statements by Onurer and Korkmazhan prior to Sunday's "elections"

[06] So-called minister of health stated that the final test results for the mad cow disease will become known in one month

[07] Sener Elcil is re-elected General Secretary of KTOS

[08] Cyprus on Cavusoglu's agenda on his visit to the US

[09] Turkish commentary supports that AKP's foreign policy in Cyprus is successful

[10] Poll shows that AKP has fallen below 40%

[11] "Elections are too important for Erdogan to be left to Davutoglu"

[12] Poll: Economy most important problem for the Turks

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Olgun: Germany seems determined to play a positive role in the Cyprus problem

Olgun noted that Roth told him that the window of opportunity in Cyprus should be "evaluated seriously" and the sides should very well use the process for having successful results. According to Olgun, Roth underlined the responsibility of both sides on this issue and told him that Germany will continue communicating with the sides having an "approach of keeping equal distance" and insists that the sides should refrain from taking steps which will endanger the process.

Noting that Germany seems determined to undertake a positive role in the Cyprus problem within the forthcoming period, Olgun added: "Of course, this is something that could be done within the framework of the UN's good offices mission. The main responsibility belongs to the UN Secretary-General".

Olgun alleged that Germany could contribute to the negotiating process with efforts it could exert for "lifting the political and economic asymmetry in Cyprus and the embargoes implemented on the Turkish Cypriots". "We could say that we share the same opinion from this point of view", he argued.

Olgun said that he conveyed to his interlocutor the Turkish view that the continuation of Turkey's guarantees is an indispensable condition for them and alleged that Turkey supports this process, never had a negative stance and its role has always been an encouraging one. He noted that the political equality and its reflection in the decision-taking mechanism of the federation are regarded as extremely important for the Turkish Cypriots. Furthermore, he said that the "founding states" having their own territory is also extremely important and constitute indispensable condition for the Turkish Cypriots.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Two UBP "mayors" announce their support to Ozersay instead of Eroglu

Self-styled mayor of occupied Lapithos and former general secretary of the UBP, Fuat Namsoy said yesterday that he supports Ozersay and not Eroglu. Describing Namsoy's decision as "surprising", the paper notes that occupied Lapithos is regarded as UBP's "castle" and this step is expected to deal a big blow to Eroglu.

Mehmet Hulusioglu, "mayor" of occupied Agios Epiktitos, also expressed his support to Ozersay yesterday, noting that he has been in politics for six years and thinks that young candidates should be supported. Hulusioglu had been "elected" with the support of UBP and DP.

Namsoy, who is among the "mayors" elected with the highest vote percentage, was asked by Havadis whether he is not worried that the UBP will launch a disciplinary procedure against him or throw him out of the party, because his decision is contrary to the UBP's one. He replied that he does not think that the UBP will make such a move, but if it does, he will defend himself. He noted that he believes in Ozersay and that he is not alone, but "this is a result of a mass movement in Lapithos".

The paper writes that Eroglu is experiencing a shock because, in spite of UBP's and DP's decision to support him, many active members of these parties have already expressed their support to other candidates. The most notable of these names are Mehmet Bayram and Ertugrul Hasipoglu in occupied Famagusta, Halil Orun in occupied Trikomo, Enver Emin and Olgun Pasalar in the occupied part of Nicosia and Fuat Namsoy and Mehmet Huslusioglu in occupied Keryneia. It is noted that from the very first days of the "election process", former UBP "deputies" Tansel Doratli, Afer Ozcafer and Ersoy Ince from Famagusta have expressed their support to independent candidate Mustafa Akinci.

(I/Ts.)

[03] The majority of the "voters' in the occupied area of Cyprus are between the ages of 31 and 45

Furthermore, the Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (17.04.15) reports that the "high election council" ("YSK") has announced yesterday that the voting will begin at 08.00 in the morning and will normally be completed at 18.00 hours. Until 19.00 hours the transmission or publishing of any results is prohibited. Between 19.00 and 21.00 hours only "YSK" will be allowed to publish results and after 21.00 hours everyone is free to announce results, which could also be found at www.mahkemeler.net webpage or at illegal "Near East University's" ("YDU") www.umitilhan.com/cum2015/index.asp address.

The total number of the ballot boxes is 693 and more than 4.000 persons are expected to work during the procedure.

Finally, it is noted that the sale of alcohol in the occupied area of Cyprus is prohibited on Sunday, because of the "elections".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Eroglu: I will end the Cyprus issue one way or another

Eroglu asked the support of the "voters", adding that he believes that he will win from the first round. He also reiterated that he is a "candidate", because the work at the negotiating table is incomplete, claiming that he is not a "candidate" for the post but he wants to sit at the negotiating table for the future or their "country" and to remove the Cyprus problem of being a problem. He stressed that he has never left a job unfinished in his life and he will not leave uncompleted work along his political life.

Replying to criticisms "what will it happen if the Cyprus problem is not solved?", Eroglu said: "At the moment, we are under the roof of the TRNC (translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus). While the Cyprus talks are continuing, we are the people of the TRNC, we are the president of the TRNC. We will strive for a solution. We will endeavour with our goodwill. It is said that the Greek Cypriot side does not have goodwill, they are not sincere. Then we will convey this to the world."

(DPs)

[05] Statements by Onurer and Korkmazhan prior to Sunday's "elections"

"It is in our hands to turn the April 19 elections to a referendum and put forward our political will to be self-administrated. Let's protect this will", Onurer stated.

Replying to the question "How he will handle the issue of the embargoes imposed on north Cyprus", Onurer said: "The embargoes policy is a performed policy by the Turkish Republic to isolate the Turkish Cypriot people and make them feel desperate. This policy is not implemented only in the sector of the economy; it is implemented in all fields of people's social life, in culture, sports and especially in the football. What is necessary to do in order to end this 'game', is to end the 'war' that the Turkish Grand National Assembly declared in 1974 against Cyprus and all the results derived from this".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (17.04.15) reports that Abdullah Korkmazhan, general secretary of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) reiterated in a written statement his party support to the "presidential candidate" Mustafa Akinci and accused the Turkish Cypriot leader and "presidential candidate" Dervis Eroglu for making propaganda.

Korkmazhan criticized Eroglu for doing politics by manipulating the Turkish Cypriot's political fears and sensitivities. He accused him of creating black propaganda on the Cyprus problem and stated that he tries to do politics over the Turkish Cypriot's political fears. Korkmazhan said that by referring to the "realities", Eroglu said to the inhabitants of the occupied Famagusta and Karpasia that besides Varosha the whole region of the occupied Morfou will be given to the Greek Cypriots, something which is baseless, as he said.

(AK)

[06] So-called minister of health stated that the final test results for the mad cow disease will become known in one month

Gulle pointed out that the biopsy could not be carried out in Turkey and added that therefore it would be sent to the UK or the US. He explained that they will have to wait for one month for the final results to come and called the public not to panic.

(AK)

[07] Sener Elcil is re-elected General Secretary of KTOS

According to a press release by KTOS, during the 40th ordinary general assembly of KTOS, the administrative board of the trade union was formed. The board will serve for two years under this formation:

Chairman: Semen Saygun

General Secretary: Sener Elcil

Education Secretary: Burak Mavis

Organizing Secretary: Besim Baysal

Treasurer: Mustafa Baybora

Press and Publicity Secretary: Ugur Erilen

Human Rights and Equality Secretary: Munur Terali

Social and Cultural Affairs Secretary: Tanju Ungor

(DPs)

[08] Cyprus on Cavusoglu's agenda on his visit to the US

"Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will pay a working visit to Washington on 18-21 April 2015 upon the invitation of the Secretary of State John Kerry, to have official talks on current bilateral, regional and global issues. Within the scope of his visit, Minister Cavusoglu will meet with his counterparts in the U.S. Administration, get together with senior members of the Congress and address the "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace". [?] In his comprehensive meetings, Minister Cavusoglu is expected to discuss with his counterparts the developments in the region, notably Ukraine, Libya and Yemen along with all aspects of our cooperation on fight against ISIS, Syria, Iraq and also the critical issues such as Cyprus, 1915 events, the fight against terrorism and energy security."

[09] Turkish commentary supports that AKP foreign policy in Cyprus is successful

"One of the most positive highlights of that legacy: Being two steps ahead on AKP Foreign Policy legacy is Cyprus: A genuinely pro-solution attitude ended Turkey's image as the one dragging its feet on a permanent settlement. Turkey gained the moral upper hand on the Cyprus issue, which it enjoys to this day".

[10] Poll shows that AKP has fallen below 40%

The survey was conducted between April 9 and 12 across 36 provinces in the country with the Participation of 4,860 respondents in the form of face-to-face interviews.

When asked which party they would vote for in the general elections of June 7, 39.2 % of respondents said they would vote for the AK Party. These figures mean a significant loss of votes for the party, which received around 50 % of the national vote in the general elections of 2011.

Support for the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) is at 28.1 % according to the poll, while it shows that the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) getting 16.9 % of the national vote, figures which are higher than the support for both Parties in the general elections of 2011.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) passes the 10 % election threshold, according to the poll's findings, and receives 11.3 % of the vote, while the Felicity Party (SP) and the Grand Unity Party (BBP), which have made an election alliance, fail to do so, receiving only 4.1 % of the vote.

When asked about their views on whether they think the AK Party government has been successful at resolving national issues and ruling the country, 70.9 % responded negatively, while only 20 % said they find the party successful. In response to a similar question asking whether they believe the AK Party government has made any mistakes, 73.7 %, which includes 68 % of the AK Party supporters, said they think the AK Party has made mistakes. Yet 26.3 % of the respondents said the party did not make any mistakes.

In response to another question about what they think regarding the course of the country, 68.4 % said the country is on the wrong path, while the 31.6 % said it is on the right path.

In the survey, the respondents were also asked whether they approve of a switch to a presidential system from the current parliamentary system. Only 20.2 % said they support a switch, while 79.8 % said they are against it.

[11] "Elections are too important for Erdogan to be left to Davutoglu"

"Under normal circumstances, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's target in the Turkish parliamentary elections on June 7 was expected to be to keep the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in power. In order to achieve that, a simple majority (276 seats) is enough in the 550-seat parliament.

But Davutoglu has been commissioned with another mission and another target by President Tayyip Erdogan since the presidential elections last August when he was handpicked by Erdogan to succeed as chair of the party through a congress, in which no other candidates dared to step up, and then as Prime Minister thanks to the party's majority in the parliament. That mission was a two-thirds parliamentary majority (367 seats) to vote in a new constitution based on a strong presidency with lesser checks and balances (limited to a single-chamber parliament, no strict separation of powers) or at least three-fifths (330 seats), enough to take such a super-presidency to a referendum.

Davutoglu had no problem with the concept of a presidential system, instead of a distorted parliamentary one in Turkey. But especially after Erdogan made it clear that there was no place for a Prime Minister in the presidential system in his mind, Davutoglu resisted for a few months and did not give open support in public for such a model. Davutoglu's resistance was broken a few days before the candidate lists were announced on April 7. A vow for a strong presidential system had its place in the election declaration of the AK Party, as read out by Davutoglu on April 15.

The theme of the AK Party for this election is to present a strong presidential system to their founding leader, Erdogan. Abdulkadir Selvi, a columnist for pro-government Yeni Safak, wrote on April 16 that Davutoglu got the best response, applause and cheers from AKP in announcing the election declaration when he mentioned Erdogan's name; it is still Erdogan who matters for the average AK Party follower. Erdogan, in a way, is asking people to vote for his super-presidency, reducing the importance of forming a new parliament and a new government to a tool of leverage for his own target.

The situation is so unconventional that if Davutoglu wins the elections, that is, if he gets a clear majority to form another AK Party government with more than 276 seats but unable to achieve 330, he will not be able to make Erdogan happy. If it doesn't pave the way for Erdogan's super-presidency, Davutoglu's victory could mean a defeat for Erdogan. Despite Davutoglu's ambitious election target of getting more than 55 %, Erdogan and Davutoglu both know that under the current estimates for vote distribution, 55 % would only be possible with a miracle. And especially if the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which is focused on the Kurdish problem, is able to exceed the unfair 10 % threshold and get into parliament, it might be practically impossible for the AK Party to take a new constitution to a referendum alone.

The question here is whether Erdogan can leave it to chance and bow to the election results if people say that they do not want a super-President, even if there would be another AK Party government [?]."

[12] Poll: Economy most important problem for the Turks

A total of 33.1% of those polled said unemployment ranks as Turkey's most important problem. "This is the highest percentage I have seen for long time," said Ali Carkoglu, who has been conducting similar surveys for the past two decades.

For 10.7% of those polled, the most important problem was poverty, while 8.2% said it was economic instability.

When the three inputs are combined, the outcome shows that half of the Turks believe that economic field is the most important problem in Turkey, said Carkoglu of Koc University, who conducted the survey together with Ersin Kalaycioglu of Sabanci University and Eric Nisbet of Ohio University.

Some 10.4% ranked terrorism and national security, while 6.4% ranked the Kurdish problem as the most important problem in Turkey.

Surprisingly, only 3.2% ranked the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Turkey's foreign policy and Syria as the country's most important problem. In contrast, some 34.9% said the issue was the most important one currently facing the world.

The issue will remain the world's most important issue in the future as well, according to the results.

Strikingly, environmental issues, such as water shortages and energy, rank last in terms of importance at present, with only 0.3% saying it was Turkey's biggest problem at the moment. A slightly larger number of respondents, 6.3%, said it would be the most important problem of Turkey in the future, while 17.2% said it would become the most serious problem in the world in the future if the necessary measures are not taken. The results reflect an awareness of environmental issues, albeit merely for the future, according to Carkoglu.

Of the 2,356 persons who were interviewed face to face, none mentioned the "headscarf issue" as an important problem for Turkey ? something that was not the case in earlier surveys, according to Carkoglu.

Satisfaction about the quality of the media, as well as censorship in the press, depends largely according to party affiliations, the survey revealed. Some 37.4% of Justice and Development Party (AKP) supporters said they were satisfied by the quality of news outlets, but this figure dropped to 13.1% for supporters of other parties. Similarly, the tendency to say there is censorship in the media is lower for AKP supporters compared to supporters of other political parties.

Again there is a significant difference in the level of discontent on censorship in the media between AKP supporters and the rest, but even among AKP supporters, there is a significant amount which is also dissatisfied with censorship in the media, according to Carkoglu.

On the question of restrictions that have been brought by the government on the Internet and censorship, only 4.90% of AKP supporters said they were categorically against limitations, while 40% of opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) replied that there were categorically against online censorship. The same ratio was 27.50% for the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and 30.20% for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). Meanwhile, 52.70% of CHP supporters said they definitely disapproved of bans on YouTube, while just 10.20% of AKP supporters said they definitely disapproved of such prohibitions. This ratio was 29.10% for the MHP and 38.30% for the HDP.

Some 13.80% of AKP supporters said they definitely approve of bans on Twitter, versus 4.40% for the CHP, 2.90% for the MHP and 2.80% for HDP. Those who said they definitely disapproved of the prohibition were 9.70% for the AKP, 56.40% for the CHP, 31.40% for the MHP and 37.40% for the HDP.

(DPs) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/ AM)

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