Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-05-06

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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] Akinci is visiting Ankara

[02] Olgun evaluated the current stage of the Cyprus negotiation process

[03] The appointment of the new "foreign minister" postponed

[04] First visit to Akinci by US Ambassador

[05] An ancient tomb of the Hellenistic-Romaic period was found near the illegal Tymbou airport

[06] Denktas and Tacoy due to Turkey

[07] Construction in mosques increased in the last 15 years in the occupied area of Cyprus

[08] Erdogan declines Putin's invitation to Moscow ceremony in fresh diplomatic snub

[09] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister: "It would be super if HDP failed to pass election threshold"

[10] "Lack of fair media opportunity in Turkish elections"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci is visiting Ankara

According to trusted sources, the paper writes that Akinci, who is going to Ankara with the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami this morning, will ask Turkey's active support on the negotiating process, which will be shaped around the joint declaration of February 11.

According to the sources, one of the issues that Akinci will discuss is getting Turkey's help on acquiring well-trained experts especially on the fields of international law, property and constitution.

The paper further reports that Akinci's delegation will discuss with the Turkish officials their first visit with Espen Barth Eide, Special Adviser of the Secretary General on Cyprus. Akinci wants also Turkey's support, as a guarantor country, on the new process.

According to the paper, the issue of opening the fenced off town of Varosha will not be in the agenda, however, if the issue is opened, then Akinci will convey to them his views on the matter.

Akinci and his delegation will be greeted by ceremony at Esenboga airport and his first meeting will be with Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Then, he will attend a lunch in his honour hosted by Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Later, Akinci will attend an official state ceremony, after which he will meet alone with President Erdogan. Their meeting will be followed by a meeting of their delegations after, which a press conference will be held. After attending a dinner in his honour, Akinci will return to the occupied area of Cyprus on the same evening.

(DPs)

[02] Olgun evaluated the current stage of the Cyprus negotiation process

Olgun added that after completing its preparation work, the negotiating team has conveyed to the UN an indicative roadmap and stated that they had also conveyed to the new "president" and the new negotiator all this work.

Referring to the current stage of the Cyprus negotiation talks, Olgun said that the proposals submitted in 2014 by the two sides on six chapters, the 11th February Joint Declaration and the convergences between the two sides of the 2008-2012 period, are still on the table of the ongoing Cyprus negotiation process which is carried out within the framework of the UN's parameters. "The negotiations will continue from the point they were left, with a structured, intensified and productive way, within a time limit and with the aim to yield a positive result. Efforts should be exerted to end the talks with bridging proposals and a give-take process".

Referring to the problems experienced recently between Turkey and the "TRNC", Olgun described them as intra-familial issues and stressed the need for both Turkey and the "TRNC" to solve their problems with the more appropriate way.

(AK)

[03] The appointment of the new "foreign minister" postponed

The paper writes that the appointment of the new "foreign minister" will take place after the visit, according to a decision taken by the central committee of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP).

(CS)

[04] First visit to Akinci by US Ambassador

The Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami, the self-styled undersecretary of the foreign ministry Erhan Ercin and the "presidential spokesman" Baris Burcu were present at the meeting. No statement was issued before or after the meeting.

According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 05.05.15), the latest developments on the Cyprus problem and the US's role in the negotiations process were discussed at the visit which was closed to the press.

(DPs)

[05] An ancient tomb of the Hellenistic-Romaic period was found near the illegal Tymbou airport

In statements to the paper, the "director" of the "antiquities department" Fuat Azimli said that pieces of historic importance, such as a broken sculpture, a king's head, 4 legs and pieces of a sculpture with three hands were found inside the tomb.

Azimli said that all the antiquities belong to the Hellenistic-Romaic period. He added that more information will be given to the media after the cleaning and inspection works.

(AK)

[06] Denktas and Tacoy due to Turkey

Denktas will be travelling to Isparta as guest of the Turkish World and Relatives Society. He will be delivering a speech on the history of the Cyprus problem at the Suleyman Demirel University tomorrow afternoon.

Denktas, who will also be holding other "official" contacts, will be returning to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus on Thursday evening.

Tacoy on the other hand will be delivering a speech at the 10th International Electronic Communications Regulators Conference in Istanbul. He was invited by the Turkish Information Technologies and Communication Authority.

[07] Construction in mosques increased in the last 15 years in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to information obtained by the "directorate of Waqfs", 38 mosques have been built since 2000, increasing the number of mosques to 204. The paper also writes that the number of churches in the breakaway regime is 204.

According to this information, 3 mosques were built in 2000, 5 in 2001, 1 in 2005, 2 in 2006, 5 in 2007, 7 in 2009, 5 in 20010 and 6 in 2013. The mosques were built among other areas in occupied Leonarisso, Koma tou Yialou, Vokollida Agios Georgios, Gaidouras, Acheritou, Milia, Gastria, Flamoudi and Massari.

In statements to the paper, the director of the "directorate of Waqfs", Ibrahim Benter, stated that the interest for mosque construction continues this years as well and added that the request for building a mosque is issued by the persons living in an area it is conveyed to the "religious department" and after to the "directorate of Waqfs", which examines the issue. He also stated that a huge part of the construction budget is covered from the "Turkish embassy" in the occupied area of Cyprus.

(CS)

[08] Erdogan declines Putin's invitation to Moscow ceremony in fresh diplomatic snub

Russian diplomatic sources told daily Hurriyet on May 5 that Turkey would be represented by Ambassador Umit Yardim at the May 9 Victory Day Parade in Moscow.

[09] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister: "It would be super if HDP failed to pass election threshold"

"Some people say this or that would happen if the HDP fails to pass the threshold," he said during a visit to the eastern province of Malatya. "Nothing would happen. It would be super. It would be very good. Did they even exist when the [ruling Justice and Development Party] AK Party launched the [settlement] process?"

The HDP may struggle to pass the 10% election threshold to enter Parliament in next month's parliamentary elections. But if the HDP does achieve what would be a historic first for the party, the AK Party is unlikely to secure a big enough parliamentary majority to comfortably press for constitutional changes that would pave the way for a Presidential system, sought by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to replace the current parliamentary one.

As the June 7 elections hove into view, both Erdogan and AK Party officials have intensified their criticism of the HDP.

[10] "Lack of fair media opportunity in Turkish elections"

"The Kurdish problem-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) filed an official complaint to Turkey's Supreme Election Board (YSK) on May 5, claiming that President Tayyip Erdogan has been taking sides on behalf of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti), despite the President's political neutrality outlined in the Constitution.

The HDP asked the YSK to warn the President, as well as the media, about the coverage of his almost daily speeches, which in practice double-up the AK Party campaign for the June 7 elections along with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's rallies.

The YSK has no authority over the President beyond the power to issue a call to him. Actually, no other institution has authority over the President. Article 105 of the Constitution states that the President can only be tried in court in case of "treason." So if Erdogan openly demands votes for the AK Party, nobody can do anything about it. Erdogan uses the same rhetoric in all his speeches: "Yes, I am taking sides, I take sides with the people, he says, as if all his opponents are "against the people".

However, the YSK does have authority over the Higher Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) in election times. RTUK, in turn, has authority over at least the public broadcaster TRT. Working on a state budget, TRT must give fair coverage to all parties according to the votes they received in the most recent elections. Ahead of the local elections in March 2014, upon a complaint filed by the social democratic main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), RTUK had told the YSK to warn TRT over its unfair coverage weighted against all opposition parties.

Yesterday May 5, President Erdogan was speaking at a rally in the western province of Tekirdag and almost all news channels were broadcasting it live. At one point he stopped. It was the afternoon (ezan) call for prayers and almost all politicians do this in order to show how respectful they are to people's beliefs. The ezan took a bit longer than usual, around 3-4 minutes. All TV stations broadcasting the rally live, apart from CNNTurk after the first minute, continued to show the crowds during the ezan, waiting for Erdogan to start talking again.

Here is the irony: TRT is currently celebrating its 51st anniversary, and its stations are broadcasting a number of stories from earlier elections. One of these stories is about a debate on the economy before the 1991 elections. The head of the six political parties entering the elections, including the then-Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, were discussing their positions live.

It would not be possible in today's Turkey to see Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu discussing anything live with an opposition leader or leaders. CHP head Kemal Kilicdaroglu has repeatedly challenged him to a live debate, on whichever TV station Davutoglu prefers, but he has yet to receive any reply. When Davutoglu appears live for an interview on any channel, the reporters who ask him questions must be approved in advance by his press people.

It is not just TRT that has problems on this. Most of the private channels, even those that are not controlled by pro-government owners of construction companies, feel obliged to broadcast Erdogan's programs, considering the current political atmosphere.

Communications and political science departments in universities across the world could do worse than to consider the Turkish situation as an academic case study regarding the exploitation of the media." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/ SP)

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