Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-06-23

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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: Building measures which will directly be related with Lefkosia will come to the agenda soon

[02] ISAD's chairman: "The Turkish Cypriot community and the Turkish Cypriot businessmen are not ready for a solution on the Cyprus problem"

[03] "The amendments to the law on political parties" were unanimously approved

[04] Saner condemned the Slovakian Ambassador to Cyprus over addressing Galanos as the "mayor of Varosha"

[05] Businessman asks for Serdar Denktas' imprisonment

[06] Gul's counselor refers to Cyprus in his recently published book; Gul appointed a counselor for Talat during the Annan Plan period

[07] Newly elected members of Turkish parliament to take oath at first session

[08] Sculptor faces up to 4 years in jail for insulting Erdogan

[09] Turkish columnist writes that Turkey's foreign policy will change after a coalition government is established

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: Building measures which will directly be related with Lefkosia will come to the agenda soon

During the meeting, Harmanci stated that he wanted to inform Akinci about the "draft law on municipalities" and also that he wanted to share information about the "Water Management Project" as well as other ongoing efforts towards bringing closer the occupied Lefkosia municipality with the Municipality of Lefkosia.

Touching upon the Cyprus problem Harmanci said: "We believe that the Turkish Cypriot society had shown a strong will towards a settlement. We hope the will of the people will be embraced by everyone. We want to express our confidence in you towards finding a just solution to the Cyprus problem".

On his part, Akinci said that he will continue with his close dialogue with the "municipalities". "Work being carried out by the Lefkosia Turkish Municipality and the South Lefkosia Municipality will contribute towards steps to be taken on the Cyprus problem", Akinci stated and added that the main target is to reach a solution which will satisfy both sides and enable both "peoples" on the island to live in equality and security.

"Some steps have been taken in the form of confidence building measures. Preparations are continuing for the implementation of these measures. Steps which will directly be related with Lefkosia will come to the agenda. In this regard, we attach great importance to the work you have been carrying out with Constantinos Yorgatzis." Akinci said.

[02] ISAD's chairman: "The Turkish Cypriot community and the Turkish Cypriot businessmen are not ready for a solution on the Cyprus problem"

Stating that the investors in the "country" are not hopeful for the future since they are affected by the political situation and the instability in the "TRNC", Sadi stressed the need for the formation of a "stable government".

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Sadi argued that the Turkish Cypriot side is not ready yet for a solution on the Cyprus problem and added that neither the current "government" is able to move forward towards the direction of the solution. He added that the NGO's should undertake duties in order to prepare the Turkish Cypriots for the solution and the period after the solution.

Sadi also referred to the necessity to take steps in order to reform the current structure of the "country" and said that it is very important for the Turkish Cypriot side to be prepared for the after solution period in order as he said to pay the minimum cost.

Sadi stated also that the business world in the "TRNC" is not ready for the solution. He added that if the "assembly" do not pass the necessary "legislations" and in case that new systems which will ease the businessmen to make investments are not implemented, then the Turkish Cypriot side will not be ready to confront the Greek Cypriot side which has already adopted such systems since 2004.

(AK)

[03] "The amendments to the law on political parties" were unanimously approved

According to the amendments, there will be "primary elections" within the political parties to determine their "deputy candidates". There will be electoral quotas of 30% for women and men on the candidate lists. The political parties, which do not implement this article, will not be able to participate in the "elections. According to the "new law" which also regulates "state subsidy" to the political parties, the political parties, which obtain more than 3% of the votes in the "elections" but don't elect a "deputy", will still be able to receive a "state fund".

On the same issue, a "regulation" was made to the establishment of a new political party. A political party may be established with at least 30 persons and not 15 as it was in the previous provision of the "political parties' law". In addition to this, there will be new conditions for the political party that will participate for the first time at the "elections". The party should inform the "supreme election board" ("YSK") 90 days before the "elections" regarding its incorporated political party provisions, all its centres, address, etc.

Meanwhile, the paper reports that it has drawn the attention the fact that this time at the chapter of "parties' prohibitions", the paragraph on "denial or lift Turkey's guarantor rights on Cyprus" was not included in the new "law".

According to the amendments, any "elected deputy", who resigns or is removed from his/her political party, will have to complete his/her period as an "independent deputy". The "deputy" will be able to join another political party only after the completion of his/her "election period".

(DPs)

[04] Saner condemned the Slovakian Ambassador to Cyprus over addressing Galanos as the "mayor of Varosha"

Issuing a written statement on the issue, Saner expressed his disappointment and displeasure over the fact and called Tomova to "respect the realities in the island, which are undeniable", as he said.

Saner alleged that the Slovakian Ambassador is ignorant of the basic details of the Cyprus problem and described her stance to address Galanos during an event organized by the "embassy" as the "mayor of Varosha", as unacceptable.

(AK)

[05] Businessman asks for Serdar Denktas' imprisonment

Bastas sued Denktas and other "officials", such as the head of the title deeds "department" and occupied Keryneia's "district officer", asking for their imprisonment for not obeying the "court's" interim order saying that the land could not be leased to anyone else and leased it to ATY-Adali Tourism Company Ltd.

The hearing of the case will take place on 5 July at occupied Keryneia's "district court".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Gul's counselor refers to Cyprus in his recently published book; Gul appointed a counselor for Talat during the Annan Plan period

Some of the memories and dialogues included in the book concern the 2003-2007 period, Gul's term at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sever writes that Gul in responce to the presence of former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, his son Serdar Denktas and his advisor Mumtaz Soysal in the team which travelled to New York upon an invitation by the then UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, had sent an adviser to former self-styled prime minister Mehmet Ali Talat. According to Sever, that was a last-minute appointment by Gul and Talat was acquainted with this new adviser on the airplane to New York.

Sever wrote the following: "[?] The AKP decided to get into action. Prime Minister Erdogan launched a diplomatic attack in Davos on 24 January 2004: 'We support the resumption of the negotiations on the basis of the Annan Plan in Cyprus. If there is no agreement, the UN could fill in the gaps. Turkey will always be one step ahead on this issue'.

After this development, Kofi Annan, who became hopeful again, wrote a letter to the sides on 5 February inviting them to New York on 10 February. Abdullah Gul was determined to firmly control the issue this time. He tried every way to convince Denktas to go to New York and left no space for him to move. In the end Denktas was convinced even unwillingly.

Together with Denktas, prime minister Mehmet Ali Talat and foreign minister Serdar Denktas would participate in the delegation which would go to New York. Denktas had advisers such as Mumtaz Soysal, who were cold to a solution. Abdullah Gul wanted to find by Talat's side a powerful person, who mastered the issue, in order to balance this.

On 8 February we were in Brussels for EU meetings. Hours were left before returning to Turkey. He called me and said: 'Ahmet, look for your friend Professor Rusen Ergec. Let us send him to New York as Talat's adviser'.

I called Rusen at once. He was shaving at the barber shop. He left shaving unfinished and came. He jumped on the plane hurriedly. He finished his shaving in Ankara. Rusen was my friend at the Brussels University and he was a very good expert on the constitutional law. Moreover, he had visited the TRNC as guest expert for a while and studied the Annan Plan very well. Furthermore, he thought that the plan was just and acceptable. I had introduced him with Gul in Ankara during the latter's Prime Ministry. At the same time, Rusen was an Iraqi Turkmen from Kirkuk.

Mehmet Ali Talat would be acquainted with his new adviser on the plane to New York for the first time. [?]"

(I/Ts.)

[07] Newly elected members of Turkish parliament to take oath at first session

In line with customs, after having taken over from outgoing Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek, as the eldest Deputy, Deniz Baykal of the Republican People's Party (CHP) will chair the first session. The first session will probably be one of the longest sessions of the 25th term of Parliament of the Republic of Turkey, expected to take about 10 hours in total as oath-taking lasts for around one minute for each Deputy.

The oath-taking session will also give hints about the process to form a viable coalition government, based on tendencies during the election of a new parliament Speaker. Those who want to run for the number two position of the state of the Republic of Turkey have until midnight on June 27 to apply, as the first round of voting will take place on June 28. Contenders have to reach a two-third majority in the first two rounds, while a simple majority is sufficient in the third round of voting.

Political party groups are not allowed to nominate a candidate for the election of the Speaker, to ensure that the Speaker shall be the choice of the assembly as a whole. As none of the four political parties have a simple majority, the election of the parliament Speaker will require a final fourth round of voting, in which the candidate with the most votes will be elected. In this case, a Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate will be elected if the three opposition parties cannot compromise and agree on a name.

In addition Today's Zaman (23.06.15) reports that the People's Democratic Party has announced that its candidate for the parliament speaker is Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat who is a former Deputy chair of the Justice and Development Party and also one of the founders of the party. He resigned from the AK Party in 2014, accusing the ruling party of having been transformed into a structure that is fertile ground for corruption.

Firat, a respected politician who is of Kurdish origin, served in the past as a lawmaker and deputy chairman of the AK Party in the past. He joined the HDP ahead of the June 7 parliamentary elections and was elected as a Deputy from Mersin. Other three parties in Parliament have not announced their candidates yet.

[08] Sculptor faces up to 4 years in jail for insulting Erdogan

Renowned sculptor Aksoy had previously been awarded compensation in the amount of TL 10,000 from Erdogan, after the latter called a statue by Aksoy erected in the eastern province of Kars a "freak." The statue was then taken down on June 14, 2011 by the Kars Municipality.

When Aksoy was asked by the media what he was planning to do with the compensation and whether he would invest it into sculpting, he replied, "I wouldn't use illicit money for sculpting." According to the indictment against Aksoy, that statement by the artist was an insult to Erdogan. If the indictment is accepted by a court, Aksoy will face up to four years of imprisonment.

[09] Turkish columnist writes that Turkey's foreign policy will change after a coalition government is established

"It will soon be clear, perhaps within weeks, whether a coalition government will be formed in Turkey, preventing the country from being dragged to another election this year.

After receiving strong messages from society, business circles, and from their own newly elected MPs, the party leaders - especially Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of the Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) and Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the Republican People's Party (CHP) - are likely to do their best to avoid a possible election in November. [?] The only way to avoid an early election is to form a coalition government. Many business circles openly favor a "grand coalition" between the AK Parti and the CHP.

If such a coalition can be established, one of the first things we should expect to change is Turkey's foreign policy. The foreign policy of successive AK Parti governments, especially after the start of the Arab Spring in 2010 and particularly on Syria and the Middle East, was one of the favorite subjects of criticism by the CHP during the election campaign.

It would be no surprise if Kilicdaroglu insists on the CHP being given the Foreign Ministry in a possible coalition deal with AK Parti.

One of the first things that CHP would like to see is a shift in policy on Syria, including the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other al-Qaeda affiliated groups. The ups and downs of the Kurdish groups fighting against ISIL - amid the suspension of Kurdish peace talks in Turkey by the government at the beginning of the election campaign - could be affected by the result of such a deal.

Of course, the change would not be a radical one, as the AK Parti would still be leading the government. But it could be expected to take a tougher stance against ISIL alongside Turkey's NATO allies, impose stricter border control, and adopt better migration control. Indeed, Kilicdaroglu promised during the election campaign that he would aim for the safe return of the more than 2 million Syrian refugees currently in Turkey - after a political settlement in Syria, to which Turkey would contribute.

The CHP wants Turkey to return to its cautious foreign policy line regarding Iraq, Egypt, Israel and Libya, and the Middle East in general. Turkey currently has no ambassadors in Syria, Egypt, Israel, and Libya, in addition to the Republic of Cyprus and Armenia.

The CHP has also vowed to revive Ankara's relations with the European Union with a more Western-oriented, democracy and rights-focused foreign policy. Relations with the U.S. and Russia could be expected to get a fine-tuning under a CHP-led Foreign Ministry. Turkey's relations with the U.S. have lately been - as in the Cold War years - mainly military-to-military, especially over the last two years. The CHP may also question the country's dependency on Russia in energy issues. In any case, one should expect a fine-tuning in Turkey's foreign policy as soon as a coalition government is established." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

(CS/ AM)

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