Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-06-22

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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] Efforts for establishing a coalition government in Turkey continue

[02] Erdogan: I will encourage forming a new government

[03] Akinci: "A multi-party meeting could be held in New York for September

[04] Akinci met with Engel

[05] "A draft bill on the Turkish Cypriot political parties" will be discussed today

[06] The occupation regime announced new implementations for tourists at crossing points

[07] Fire in Varosha fenced off city caused by random spark from a soldier's lighter

[08] The road from Rizokarpaso to the Apostolos Andreas monastery to be broadened

[09] Tunali: "The country and the media got into the hands of politics"

[10] EU Energy Union: Turkey should develop nuclear safety in line with EU

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Efforts for establishing a coalition government in Turkey continue

Today's Zaman (21.06.15) reported that opposition Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli has balked at a proposal from the main opposition Republican People's Party to take on the prime ministerial post in a coalition government. "It is not possible to comment further on this at this moment. I mean, it would not work out, I don't think so," Bahceli said in remarks published in the Sozcu daily.

In a surprise move, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu had proposed that Bahceli be the Prime Minister of a possible CHP-MHP coalition government, even though the MHP received fewer votes than the CHP in the June 7 parliamentary election. Kilicdaroglu, who made the offer in remarks also published in Sozcu on Friday, said later in the day he had made his call to Bahceli in the best interests of the country. "'I'll be the Prime Minister, you will be the Prime Minister' -- these are old habits," Kilicdaroglu told reporters. "The priority is [the interests] of Turkey.

But Bahceli called Kilicdaroglu's proposal "unfortunate," even though he said it was received with respect. "We want you to understand us very well. We are not a party that seeks small ambitions," he told Sozcu. "Kilicdaroglu's words are unfortunate. What is this? A new toy from China? How can the MHP [be expected to] get caught up in the [excitement of the] proposal?"

Commenting on the same issue, Etyen Mahcupyan writes the following in Hurriyet (20.06.15) under the title: "Who will be the AK Party's Dance Partner?"]

"The pre-election arithmetic is based on the simple fact that a coalition that excludes the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is neither sustainable nor realistic in political terms. On the other hand, a new election in the short run is likely to favor the AK Party. Consequently, the opposition parties are caught in a dilemma. They need a coalition by all manner of means. Despite that, the votes the AK Party would get in a new election would be largely influenced by the way holding new elections are determined. If the AK Party behaves confidently about increasing its votes and keeps the bar of bargaining high, its votes might decrease inversely. But if the party does its best to form a coalition and cooperation cannot be made despite its efforts, its votes might increase beyond expectations. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu act accepting this simple equation. [?]

This attitude has intensified the opposition's dilemma even more. ]?] In other words, it can be said that the AK Party will not determine which coalition option can be realized. This decision will be shaped within the tactical war between the two opposition parties. The MHP is in a more advantaged position compared to the CHP. After all, it increased its votes by three percent and demonstrated that it has a potential to make use of the AK Party's loss of votes. The party predicts that becoming a coalition partner will favor the MHP because all the malfunctions would be pinned on the stronger partner in an AK Party-MHP coalition. [?]

When viewed from a long-term perspective, the CHP is actually the only absolute loser of the system. So, the possibility of being a partner to the government is very appealing to the CHP.

Nevertheless, if this possible AK Party-CHP partnership achieves to be long term, none of the acquisitions the MHP imagines will be realized. So, the MHP may become more audacious all of a sudden, the red lines may be blurred and an AK Party-MHP coalition, which could be desirable due to cultural similarities, might be brought to the agenda. [?]"

[02] Erdogan: I will encourage forming a new government

"As President, I will encourage the formation of a new government as immediate as possible in line with my people's will and expectation," Erdogan said in an address to the Turkish Exporters' Assembly in Istanbul on June 21.

He also responded to the recent statements of political parties which called on him to remain within the boundaries of the presidential authorities mandated by the charter. "Some people use remarks such as: 'the President should withdraw to his authorities." I am quite aware of my authorities in the written constitution. During my 40 years in politics, I have always acted in line with the constitution. I know very well how to use the authorities and responsibilities of the presidency given by the constitution. I don't need any instructions for that," said Erdogan.

[03] Akinci: "A multi-party meeting could be held in New York for September

Speaking at a meeting with the rector of the illegal Cyprus International University, Dr Halil Nadiri, Akinci referred to an interview that Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami gave to the POLITIS newspaper regarding the guarantor countries. Responding to a press question, Akinci said that neither side wanted a waste of time.

Akinci said that the real aim is to take the comprehensive negotiations forward and if possible have a multi-party meeting in New York in September. This is an unspoken aim by all the sides involved including the UN, he argued adding that it is not possible however to say whether there was enough progress now to constitute such a meeting.

[04] Akinci met with Engel

The meeting between Akinci and Engel was held closed to the press.

[05] "A draft bill on the Turkish Cypriot political parties" will be discussed today

According to the "draft bill", some of the amendments on the "law on political parties", which was put into effect in 1975, are the following:

* It includes a regulation that will prevent the transfer of "deputies". It means that a "deputy", who resigns or is excluded from his /her political party, will continue his/her duties as an "independent deputy" until to complete the "elected period".

* The introduction of the "duumvirate practice" at the political parties.

* Every political party is obliged to show candidates at least 30% of every gender.

* If the "draft bill" passes, then only the political parties that have more than 5% will be able to get "state fund" in the "general elections".

* A political party cannot be established by using the same name of a political party, which has activities in Turkey, however, in case a political party is established in Turkey using the same name of a political party, which already has been established in the "TRNC" (translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus), then the party in "TRNC" does not need to change its name.

Meanwhile, the paper reports that the general secretary of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Abdullah Korkmazhan, in a written statement, protested regarding the change of the percentage of the political parties from 3 to 5% for receiving a "state fund".

(DPs)

[06] The occupation regime announced new implementations for tourists at crossing points

According to the paper, all EU citizens (including the Greek Cypriots) who would like to cross over to the "TRNC" will be able to do so without being forced to get out of their car or their buses in order to carry out the control procedures. Instead, the "police officers" at crossing points will get in the buses, collect all identity cards and passports from the tourists' operators who escort the tourists groups and give them to the control points.

With this new implementation, more speedy and secure services will be provided to all people who want to cross over to the "TRNC", writes the paper.

(AK)

[07] Fire in Varosha fenced off city caused by random spark from a soldier's lighter

Police said an investigation has begun on the said soldier and it will be brought to the attention of a court", the paper writes.

The report said that the solider was playing with the lighter panicked when a spark from the lighter started the fire. He walked away from the area after panicking; the fire was seen by other military personnel who intervened and tried to put it out.

[08] The road from Rizokarpaso to the Apostolos Andreas monastery to be broadened

In statements during his visits, Tacoy said that the issue of the broadening of the road from Rizokarpaso up to the Apostolos Andreas Monastery is into the agenda and added that all the works will take place taking into consideration the environmental conditions.

(AK)

[09] Tunali: "The country and the media got into the hands of politics"

In statements to the paper, Tunali accused some media organizations and journalists and argued that they do not bring into the agenda or they do not promote the SDP's positions and callings.

Tunali stated further that the "assembly" does not reflect the "people's will" and accused it for not being able to find out solutions to the people's problems.

Supporting that all sectors in the occupied area of Cyprus confront problems, Tunali said that those who are active in politics for 40 years now are incapable to find solutions. "Those who established this status quo, cannot change it", Tunali added.

(AK)

[10] EU Energy Union: Turkey should develop nuclear safety in line with EU

"The European Commission is aware of the Akkuyu nuclear plant project. It is not for the European Commission to take a position on the suitability of the construction of a nuclear plant in Akkuyu, but the Commission is assessing the nuclear stress test assessment report prepared by Turkey which also covers seismic issues," according to Sefcovic.

He highlighted all EU member states have their sovereign right to decide on their national energy mix, but added this must be in line with EU law. "Our policy in the nuclear area aims to ensure that member states using nuclear energy comply with the highest safety standards, radiological protection and waste management," he explained and added that Turkey was expected to align its legislation with the EU's Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive with respect to trans-boundary issues. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(CS/ AM)

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